26 



RECREA TION. 



cannot go about all the days of your life 

 like that ! You look a disgrace to the 

 ancient line of tritons from which you 

 are descended, and were the old farm 

 hands to see you now, they would 

 almost be justified in thinking your 

 touch faial to their precious cattle. 



Mon pauvre petit ! You evidently 

 realize your position keenly. 



Look out ! you'll twist your dear little 

 head off in a minute. I wish I could 

 help you. 



Why, what's the matter? All of a sud- 

 den perfectly still except for your mouth 

 moving in that funny way. Exhausted, 

 I suppose, and no wonder. 



What ! Another newt coming, and 

 swimming right out towards you. Now 

 there will be trouble. 



Wonder of wonders ! He seizes hold 

 of the floating skin and pulls and tugs 

 away like a good fellow, until off it 

 comes, sending him head over tail ; after 

 which the good little Samaritan quiet- 

 ly creeps off, while our tiny sufferer 

 deliberately devours his troublesome 

 old jacket. 



In all my country rambles I have 

 never seen anything like that. Evidently 

 some cry for help was sent forth and 

 promptly answered, but how ? 



I know not. Truly there is much to 

 be learned here. I must capture you, 

 my little friends. I am sure you will 

 be immensely amusing in the aquarium. 

 To catch you now, though, means a 

 quick and dexterous dash. 



That's lucky ! Now Iwant your mate. 

 There she is, peeping out cautiously 

 from behind yonder stalks of grass. A 

 scoop, a scurry and an upward sweep of 

 the fine net and out you come, my spot- 

 ted dear. 



I've got you ! There, there, don't be 

 frightened. I'll lift you by your nice 

 long tail. I know what you like. 



By the way, it seems strange that 

 grass grows so tall down there. I won- 

 der if it can be Italian tape grass, 

 discovered by that enthusiast, Signor 

 Vallisneri. I hope it is. I've been wish- 

 ing for some ever so long. It is Vallis- 

 neria, I am sure of it. No, let me see. 

 I want some of the younger stalks, roots 

 and all, and to make sure of its future 

 growth I will take part of this rich dark 

 soil, so that it will bloom indoors. 



Won't Charlie's eyes open when he 

 sees the pretty flower at the base of 

 Mrs. Vallisneria plant slowly unwind 

 her long spiral stem until it mounts to 

 the water's surface seeking that precious 

 floating pollen of her complementary 

 plant, and having found it, slowly rewind 

 and descend. He never would believe 

 me, but he says seeing is believing. 



Now I need some " floaters." Every 

 placid lake has " floaters," and mine is 

 to be a lake of peace. 



There it is! "horrid green scum," 

 some people call it. On the contrary, 

 it is formed of very pretty water plants. 

 Though why the books call it duck meat, 

 I cannot imagine, for ducks have 

 nothing to do with it. This looks ex- 

 tremely like the little lemna, spoken of 

 in my aquarium guide, that carries on 

 its rootlets, those tiny animals that fish 

 love so dearly. 



A couple of taddies now, and I am 

 off. My ! how late it is ! I must hurry 

 back for breakfast, or I shall be late 

 down town. 



Who is that descending the hill? 

 Evidently another early bird, though a 

 rather diminutive one. Why, it's lit- 

 tle Harry Hilyer, with his home-made 

 net. 



" Mornin', ma'am." 



" Good morning, Harry. What are 

 you carrying so carefully in your pail ?" 



" Fish. Sell 'em cheap. Want 'em ?" 



" I don't know, let me see first what 

 you have." 



" Shiners, minnies and pollywoggles." 



"Well, yes, I can use some of 

 those. I will take two tadpoles and 

 four small shiners." 



" Here's the shiners. Ain't got t'other 

 things." 



"Yes, you have. Oh ! I forgot, I 

 should have said two polywogs. No, I 

 don't want those with legs, they will be 

 frogs too soon, and then good-bye to 

 the little fish in my aquarium." 



" Your whaat-um ?" 



" My aquarium. You have never seen 

 an aquarium, Harry? Well, come and 

 see me fit up one where the water will 

 not have to be changed for a whole 

 year " 



" Whew ! I should like to see that." 



TO BE CONTINUED. 



