THE MAGIC PAWA SHELLS

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 11, 13 January 1934, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE MAGIC PAWA SHELLS

Deep down under the dark green sea, in a large rock cavern, lived two little mermaids. Their home was a sparkling, silver eoatlc made of shells surrounded by beautiful gardens where sea flowers grow in abundance. Their father, King

Neptune, was always very busy, and seldom had time to spare for his two beautiful daughters, Sea Foam and Sea Pearl.

When they were older the princesses grew tired of their lovely grotto and wished to see the world, for they had never ventured far from their 6ca home. But the world was far away, and the mermaids had heard their nurse, Mother-o'-Pearl, say that none of the sea folk could reach the world without the magic charm, a large and beautiful pawa shell, which, with many other.?, was guarded by the old witch of the sea, and only King Neptune possessed one of these valuable shells.

The princesses decided at last to persuade the witch to give them a. pawa shell. On arriving at the witch's cave, Soa Foam knocked on a rock nearby. Jn answer, an old, wrinkled creatui j hobbled out, • saying in a' high-pitched voice: "What do you mean bothering me at this time o' the day'•" "Wβ are the daughters of King Xeptune," answered Sea Pearl, "and have como to ask you for two pawa shells.'' At iirst the old witch would not listen to them, but nfter a. lot of argument she gave them each & pawn shell, telling the mermaids never to part with them, for once above the soa they would lose their power to live without fresh air, and also their immortality. With the witch's warning in their ears, and tightly clasping their shells, Sea Foam and Sen Pearl swain away, up through the eea, till they reached a small rock. Here they rested, breathing for the first time- tlio fresh, sweet air. For miles round the endless ocean spread, the only break being a. large island, at which the mermaids gazed curiously. After they had rested, the two set off for the island, which they reuelied in a few minutes, On touching dry land, the mermaids' tails disappeared, and in their stead were two human legs. The princesses made their way into a little fishing village, where everything was new and strange to them. The poverty and dirt filled them with horror, and, on the other hand, the villagers could not help looking with round eyes at the two strange and beautiful girls. Then some little boys started throwing stones at them and yelling derisively:

"Yβ witches! Ya witches!" till the terrified ■"mermaids fled before their onslaught and reached tho beach in safety. But, to her dismay and fear, Sea Pearl dropped her pawa shell into si deep pool, where it lay buried in the sand at the bottom. After a long and fruitless search the jnermaids formed a last desperate plan. Sea Foam would return to the old witch and get another shell oud hasten back for her sister.

So Sea Foam departed and left Sea Pearl alone on the beach. Very soon Sea Pearl began to grow faint and she knew the witch's words were true and that her life was slowly ebbing. Then suddenly King Neptune appeared on a sea horse, and, on seeing his datighter, quickly reached her side. On grasping the situation he gave her one of his shells and bade her hasten home. She- was just in time, and met Sea Foam returning with a shell, which, of course, was now not wanted.

.After careful nursing Sea Pearl ,was none the worse for her adventure, which was nearly a tragedy. King Neptune forgave his daughters, and resolved to take them with him on his journeys bo that they might see the world and- also to keep them lrom wandering again.