AMONG THE SHELLS. 23 







young. He plucked them from the branches as one 

 picks fruit. "And many a songster," he says, ''lost 

 a tail-feather as it sat perched upon a branch, appar- 

 ently unconscious that the world contained an enemy. " 



4. AMONG THE SHELLS. 



FEW eyes that read these lines have never seen 

 shells. They abound in nearly all waters and in the 

 moist places of the land. The surf of the ocean and 

 the waves of the lakes wash them upon the beach. 

 They lie on the bottoms of ponds and rivers, hide in 

 gutters and gardens, and show their white whorls by 

 the roadside. Some of the great rocks are made of 

 myriads of minute shells that once covered soft, living 

 animals. 



If those who Jive in the crowded city have never 

 seen these creatures in their natural haunts, they may 

 find them in temporary boarding places. In some 

 eating-houses there are at certain seasons large piles 

 of oysters dripping with melting ice. These are usu- 

 ally alive until they are forced open. The half shell 

 with its white lining and black center-spot may be 

 easily obtained. The pearl-lined clam shells have often 

 served little girls for dishes, as they served savages 

 thousands of years ago. 



Then there are pearl buttons, knife handles, and 

 card-cases in show-windows, and jewelry set with 

 rare pearls glistening in show-cases. All these may 

 be seen and enjoyed' without cost. Who ever stops. 



