18 THE HALL OF SHELLS. 
nineteen hundred and twenty teeth. When 
not in use mowing the rocks which are coated 
with seaweed, the tongue with its rows of shin- 
ing teeth is comfortably coiled away in its mys- 
terious and wonderfully contrived interior.” 
“T never guessed my mermaid’s dishes held 
such a feast of wisdom,” laughed Undine. 
“ Your pretty shells are finer than the rarest 
china, and suggest others that have been simi- 
larly used in the early days of our country. 
“There are two varieties of pear conch upon 
the Atlantic coast—the Fulgur carica and the 
Fulgur canaliculatus—which the aborigines 
used as drinking vessels. From the pearly sur- 
faces of these shells their white wampum was 
cut, which was the shell money as well as 
charmed ornament of the Indians; knives were 
also cut from these shells.” 
Through the open door Undine caught 
glimpses of the sea and exclaimed : 
“Dear old Ocean, how I love you! What 
treasures you send me! And, Cousin Ellen, 
you are my good genie who charm away my 
pains; the stories you tell me are better than 
fairy tales and make me forget that I am not 
strong. I seem, like the old German’s Undine, 
to wander away with the ocean sprites and to 
know their mysterious and happy life. The 

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