MERMAID NOLA

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 116, 12 November 1938, Page 20

MERMAID NOLA

(Written for the Ring- by "Mischievous," aged 12.>

"Tf/'HAT are you going to give mother for Christmas, May?" asked six-year--yv old Nola. "Oh," I don't know," said May. "Probably a vase or something. Mum won't mind if I don't buy her anything." '.-.:.,- ---"She won't say anything," said Nola wisely, "but ishe will feel sad,. I'm going to save all my pennies Daddy gave me on Saturdays and buy gemmiipsg nice for her," finished Nola. ; , ' "Oh, run away and let me read "^jy book!" said May pettishly. : j Nola ran down to the sandy beach,, her. -^arrls flying behind her. On ti| the rocks she clambered, and watched W« waves riding high. I Nola had lived by the sea ever since she was born. She had been washed up on to the shore, and really May was only a step-sister. Unlike Nola, she* was a selfish child, with hair that would not curl. She had always envied Nola with her golden curls and big brown eyes. And often when she was angry she would remind Nola that she did not have any parents, and was an orphan, which made Nola, young as she was, wince with pain, for she had grown to love her step-parents. ,•' As Nola sat on the rocks she heard someone calling her name. Looking across the ocean, she beheld a beautiful mermaid swimming swiftly towards her, till at last she reached the rocks, where she clambered up and sat by Nola. "Come with me for a trip to my home," she said. "How you have grown» my sister." . :; i: "Your sister!" said Nola. "Yes, when you were washed ashore, 'twas me that carried you there* I changed into a mermaid." ; "Then is my mother alive?" asked Nola, a great fear gnawing at her heart For she wanted to stay with her ;step-parents even though they werii not her own. * . : -: ' "Yes, dear, but not as a mortal," replied her sister. "She and I live to* gether in the palace of the Sea King. Would you like to see your mother?* queried the mermaid, tossing her golden curls which were so like Nola's. "Yes," said Nola. Her sister clapped her hands, and a silver carriage drawn by two gleaming fish swam to their side. When seated, the mermaid clapped her handt again, and they were drawn under the waves. Having reached the bottom, Nola found herself in front of a large castle decorated with pearls and coloured rocks. Taking her hand, her sister led her into it. Through marble halls they went till they reached a large, door made entirely t>f crystal. This was opened, and Nola found herself :in a large room. ; At the end stood a huge throne,'where the Sea King sat, and on a lower level was a beautiful throne on which sat a lovely lady with long, fair hair and big sad eyes. As soon as she saw Nola she gave a glad cry, and stretched out slender white arms. . Nola found herself in her real mother's arms. But as she lay there, she ; realised that she would never.be happy down in the splendour, and that her stepmother was the real mother she loved. '.''"■" "Now I have seen you, and know you are well and alive, I am content,* said her mother in silvery tones. And with a happy smile she began to show her around. '■■'■.-'" : Nola had never seen such a splendid place. She received a large box and a gold locket which she was told Would prove who she was. Nola wa% puzzled, but took them. When she left her mother, her mother was .very ■happy, < ■ ■ .'■'.;. ; .. l. ;■:;■ .• She returned home, where her mother and father were anxiously looking for her. Her father opened the box, which showed that she was really the "Honourable Marion Barbie," and that a certain manor belonged to her. Her step-parents could not understand how she obtained the box; but Nola insisted that her mother had given it to her. May realised during the search for Nola how selfish and unkind she had been, and now she was quite nice. They went to live ftt the beautiful manor, which was near the sea. And sometimes Nola thinks of her mermaid sister*

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