8s THE HALL OF SHELLS. 
“These ‘stony folds,’ or fossil shells, are 
sometimes found three and four feet m diam- 
eter, but the majority are much smaller. The 
smaller chambers of these shells seem also to 
have been air cells, all connected by means of 
the tube through which air was forced in or 
dispelled, enabling the little animal to rise or 
sink at pleasure. These pearly partitions also 
served to strengthen the shell. 
“But our story is incomplete,” said the 
doctor, “without that charming poem which 
has given to Dr. Holmes the title of ‘ Poet 
Laureate of the Nautilus.’ ” 
Miss Bremely, who had anticipated this 
wish and sat with book in hand, now read the 
following poem entitled 
THE CHAMBERED NAUTILUS. 
This is the ship of pearl that poets feign 
Sails the unshadowed main, 
The venturous bark that flings 
On the sweet summer wind its purple wings 
In gulfs enchanted, where the siren sings 
And coral reefs lie bare, 
Where the cold sea-maids rise to sun their streaming hair. 
Its webs of living gauze no more unfurl, 
Wrecked is the ship of pearl 
And every chambered cell, 
Where its dim dreaming life was wont to dwell, 
As the frail tenant shaped his growing shell, 
