SUMMER— AN AQUARIUM STORY. 



Mark Samuel. 



THE SELF-SUSTAINING AQUARIUM. 



Prompt to the minute, Harry, and I 

 am glad to see you. Step softly, 

 please, for we must not wake my brother 

 yet. You know he does not care as much 

 for an aquarium as you and I do." 



" Yes, ma'am, I'll go Indian fashion. 

 You shan't hear a rustle." 



" Walk right in here. This is my little 

 study. That is the aquarium over by 

 the window." 



"It's a daisy piece of glass, ma'am, but 

 where's the seams?" 



" Oh, that aquarium has no seams, 

 Harry. It is all one piece of glass. A 

 friend brought it from abroad for me." 



" A lady friend ? It must uv cost a 

 heap." 



" I er — er — I don't know, Harry, but 

 come, you must not ask too many ques- 

 tions, or I shall forget some of the things 

 I have to do. You know in fitting an 

 aquarium you have to think of nearly 

 everything under the sun. If you forget 

 the least little thing that has to be done 

 the 'balance' is upset." 



" And down comes the 

 cradleum taddy and all 

 eh, ma'am ?" 



'* Pretty nearly, Harry. 

 Now, you had better pay 

 close attention, or you 

 will forget some of my in- 

 structions when you try to 

 fit up your aquarium. If 

 you don't understand what 

 anything is for, just ask 

 me." 



" First, you will notice 

 the aquarium stands in 

 the north window where it 

 will not get too much 

 light. Now, just carry 

 this pail of white river 

 sand over to the hydrant 

 for me and let the water 

 run through it while you 

 stir it, just as grandma 

 did the plum pudding." 



" Certainly. How much 

 sand do you need ? " 



"Enough to spread 

 evenly over the bottom, 

 to a depth of two inches, 

 for the roots of the plants 

 to run in." 

 " Now, let me see, over in that rear left 

 hand corner of the aquarium, I shall 

 place this bushy green plant that re- 

 cently came from South Carolina." 



" Pickaninny plant, eh ? What do you 

 call it?" 



" Fanwort, or cabomba. Do you know, 

 Harry, each aquarium plant has some 

 peculiar feature from which it gets its 

 name. Do you notice anything special 

 about this one? " 



" Yes, ma'am ; each leaf looks just like 

 those Japanesey palm leaf fans." 



" You are right, so it is called fan- 

 wort. Wort means weed." 



" In the rear right hand corner I think 

 this bunch of willow-moss will look par- 

 ticularly well where it can droop over 

 my rockery. Oh ! I didn't show you 

 my rockery yet, did I ? I am sure you 

 cannot guess what it is made of." 



11 Yes, I can, ma'am. It's a large red 



clay castle, or a man of the sea in china " 



"Indeed it is not. I cannot bear those 



