. The sea fairies . canyon, and near its upper endthey came to a lot of conch shells lying upon the sandy bot-tom. A funny looking crab was sticking his head out fromeach of these shells. Here are the hermit crabs, said one of the steal these shells and live in them, so no enemies canattack them. Dont they get lonesome? asked Trot. Perhaps so, my dear. But they do not seem to mindbeing lonesome. They are great cowards, and think if theycan but protect their lives there is nothing else to care the jolly crabs we have just left, the hermits are crossand unsociable. Oh, k
. The sea fairies . canyon, and near its upper endthey came to a lot of conch shells lying upon the sandy bot-tom. A funny looking crab was sticking his head out fromeach of these shells. Here are the hermit crabs, said one of the steal these shells and live in them, so no enemies canattack them. Dont they get lonesome? asked Trot. Perhaps so, my dear. But they do not seem to mindbeing lonesome. They are great cowards, and think if theycan but protect their lives there is nothing else to care the jolly crabs we have just left, the hermits are crossand unsociable. Oh, keep quiet and go away! said one of the hermitcrabs, in a grumpy voice. No one wants mermaids aroundhere. Then every crab withdrew its head into its shell, andour friends saw them no more. They re not very polite, observed Trot, following themermaid as Merla swam upward into the middle water. :I know, now, why cross people are called crabbed, saidCapn Bill. They ve got dispositions jes like these erehermit crabs. 86. The Sea Fairies Presently, they came upon a small flock of mackerel, andnoticed that the fishes seemed much excited. When they sawthe mermaid they cried out: Oh, Merla! what do you think? Our Flippity has justgone to glory! When? asked the mermaid. Just now, one replied. We were lying in the water,talking quietly together when a spinning, shining thing camealong and our dear Flippity ate it. Then he went shootingup to the top of the water and gave a flop and—went toglory! Is nt it splendid, Merla? Poor Flippity! sighed the mermaid. I m sorry, for hewas the prettiest and nicest mackerel in your whole flock. What does it mean? asked Trot. How did Flippitygo to glory? Why, he was caught by a hook, and pulled out of thewater into some boat, Merla explained. But these poor,stupid creatures do not understand that; and when one ofthem is jerked out of the water and disappears they have anidea he has gone to glory—which means to them some un-known, but beautiful sea. I
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