FLOWERS OF THE SEA. 77 



liancy of those that liave enjoyed more of the 

 kisses of the sun. They wave like plumes, 

 like gayest ribbons are tossed in the currents ; 

 some as fine as frostwork can scarcely be dis- 

 cerned, while others in mimic forests grow to 

 a thousand feet." 



Miss Bremely remarked : " There is one 

 variety of seaweed which has passed into his- 

 tory because of its influence upon the industry 

 and the lives of a far-away people. Shall I 

 tell you about it ? " She read her answer in 

 the eager faces turned toward her ; that of the 

 good doctor beamed with especial pleasure as 

 he listened, and Undine wondered that she 

 had not known befor^j that Dr. McLean liked 

 seaweeds so well. 



"THE MERMAID'S LACE." 



The little island of Burano lies like a gem 

 in the blue Adriatic. In the early days its 

 inhabitants were simple fisher folk, spreading 

 their nets at night in the coves of the sea ; in 

 the morning, carrying their fish in rude gon- 

 dolas to the markets of Venice. The women 

 mended the broken nets or netted new ones, 

 little guessing they were catching a trick of 

 netting which should one day form the founda- 

 tion of a fabric to be the pride of royalty. 



