88 THE HALL OF SHELLS. 



" These ' stony folds,' or fossil shells, are 

 sometimes found three and four feet in 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, 



