The Star-Fish 
59 
that every fish in the sea knew that, but 
I forget, you are from the fresh water. 
“ The young oysters are hatched in the 
shell of the mother in the form of eggs. 
She keeps them for awhile, but presently 
sets them free, and although they are 
very tiny, they have eyes to see with, and 
can swim about. The oysters have large 
families, and I knew of one Lady Oyster 
who had two million young ones, but of 
course, only a few lived to grow up, since 
they are greatly prized as food by all fish, 
and delicious meals they make too, as I 
can tell you from experience. 
“ But about the young oysters : Well 
they are driven about by the currents and 
tides, and finally attach themselves to 
some object, like a rock, or hide in the 
sand and mud, and there they take up 
housekeeping for life, for, once their 
shell hardens, they cannot move. 
