58 



A MOUSE THAT LIVES IN THE MUD. 



Rubies, emeralds, sapphires, topazes, diamonds, amethysts, opals, ■ — 

 take a handful of each, mix them altogether, and toss them up in 

 the sunlight at noon when the sun is brightest; then you may 

 have some idea of the sparkling beauty of this little sea-mouse, 

 which creeps so quietly about in the mud at the bottom of the sea. 

 By the way, she has another name besides sea- 



and a much prettier one, — 

 dite. Let us call her 

 future. 



Aphrodite proud of her 

 We should be, I am sure, 

 ])la( t A\ c should spend 

 time in tlic 



1)1 ightest 



i: 



mouse, 

 Aphro- 

 that in 



]S'ow,is 

 beauty ? 

 in her 

 all our 

 sunshine 

 we could 

 find, on 

 top of the 

 biggest roclv, 

 and we should 

 sparkle and 

 sparkle until 

 the sun hiui- 

 would be je<don 

 Aphrodite is not ]jioiul, on 

 the central}, ^he is the --h}<-'-t 

 little creature in the world. Instead of sun- 

 ning herself, and enjoying the sensation she 

 creates, her one desire is to keep out of the way. 

 the mud, hiding under stones or in empty shells, wrapping hei'self 

 up in >a sea-weed mantle, she seems to be constantlj' saying: — 



"Oh! don't, I beg of you, take the trouble to look at me! I am 

 only four inches long, and I haven't any head worth mentioning. 

 You really embarrass me by staring; and there are so many 

 creatures all around hei-e that are really worth looking at. See 

 that great octopus over there, who is trying so hard to attract your 

 attention. Go and look at him, like good people ! He is fifty times 



.It 



But 





Burrowing into 



