How the Seals Came

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17223, 14 December 1923, Page 14 (Supplement)

How the Seals Came

A Tale for the Children.

for the Christmas “ Star,’* by

MISS BILLIE HALL).

Once upon a time there lived hr tho shore ok tho deep blue sea a stalwart 'fisberboy. Every evening at sunset he ti!»ed to row away out from shore, and then set his nets to eat eh the fish that might corue his way. Always while he was at work in his boat lie would he «in*ing. tor he was a very happy person. He loved his work and the sea and everything that was beautiful. Sometimes, though, ho would coa'c his •inging. and would sit and dream- tor he often wondered what it was like clown at the bottom of the sea, ami if there were beautiful places and mermaids down there. Once or twice, when he bad stayed out in his boat longer than usual when most of the • Lars would he shining—he thought he had heard sweet music. Now on this particular; might he had stayed out longer than usual and sure enough he heard the music again. This time, however, feeling in adventurous mood, lie set out in the direction from whence the sounds came, hoping to find out the cause of them. On and on the sounds led him. gradually bringiug him near a solitary rock that lav off the headland, and was just flush with the water at high tide. Here beneath the light of the -.stars be saw one of the most glorious- sights he had ever seen. It was a beautiful mermaid combing out her golden tresses as she sat on the i*ock. and singing a song of the sea. So enraptured was the ffsherboy that he drew nearer and ventured to speak to this beautiful being. He asked her what her name was. and •he told him it was “Starlight.” She was only able to come to tlie top of the sea when the tide was high and the stars were bright, as she was bom when the stars were shining, and that was how she was called Starlight. Then the fisherboy told her 'that his name was “ Alone.” that his father and mother were dead, and that he caught fish that he might live. He also told her that lie had often wondered wbar it was like to live beneath the sea. Then Starlight told him of many beautiful things that were uuder the sea. As time passed so enraptured with each other did they become that Starlight told Alone that if he would leave the outside world and go with her she would show* him many beautiful things indeed down below tho top of tho sea. First of alll though, he would have to be “ charmed ” so that he could live under the water. To this Alone agreed. So Starlight called a "stingaree” and told it to sting aud charm Alone, •he wanted to take him with her under the sea. AVhen the stingaree had done its work Alone went to sleep—and then Starlight had dolphins take him to the paUcevof the kingfish. This palace was n beautiful cavern lit up by thousands of starfish and glittering pearls from the oysters. So when Alone woke up he found himself here with the lovely Starlight- beside him. •‘Now. c-ome with me," said Starlight to Alone.*' and T will show you Neptune's army.” She led him out of the palace, to behold an arnvy of swordfish i»fcs-»ing by. AVhen the v had gone Starlight said again “ Follow me. and f will show* you Neptune’s horses.” and. leading the way, she look him to where the seahorses were grazing in a beautiful paddock of sea anemones, y. Next said Starlight; “ I

w ill take you to see Neptune’s airships,” and she took him to a huge, high cavern where there were many flvtng fish swimming about. Alter that Starlight, took Alone down a long, dark passage ar the end ol which they found some skates. Standing on the hacks of the skates, they were carried on down another long passage that led into a chamlier tilled with frost fish. This i was Neptune's cooling chamber. It i was so cold here that they asked tlie skates to take them hack to the warmer j water. Now.” said Starlight, “ wo will get ' some seahorses and tide to the top of the sea ami away to where Neptune's fleet is." So they got the seahorses, and rode and rode on the crests of the wares until they came to where Neptune's fleet was. The ships are known as Portuguese men-oi-ivar. “ What a splendid sight.” said Alone. "Oh, Starlight. 1 wish 1 could stop with you forever, and view wonderful sights you hare shown me. Where is Neptune. that I may seek him and asL his permission to remain?” "Oh.” said Starlight, “if you wish tp see Neptune I can take you to him. If he is happy ererything will be all right. Hut if he is cross he may pun--ish and banish both of us— for he mat be rexed that 1 should bring one of the world a bore info his dominions.” “If ho does.” said Alone. “ I shall not desert you, for l lore you too deeply now.” " fomo then.” said Starlight. "We will send the seahorses home, and we will ride on the backs of the flying fish to w here Neptune is.” So on and on they sped to the Line, where Neptune tat in all his splendour. Their coming was heralded by the silrer trumpeter, and Neptune rode forth to meet them oil the back of a huge elephant fish. So Alone pleaded his cause and begged permission to stay beneath the water forerer. But alas'. Neptune was very angry indeed. Tie would not harken to Alone, and scolded poor Starlight most dreadfully for bringing a stranger into his kingdom. So angry did Neptune that he vowed he wo did change them both and seal his kingdom both north and south forever more against all strangers who wished to liVe beneath the sea. He had the I cuttlefish enshroud them in a mantle of I blackness, and the sole to change their ) souls. Then he drove them forth, bidj ding the dogfish cha.se them to the I utmost ends of his kingdom. So on and on they were driven until they | reached the iee floes of the north. Here j the darkness left them, but alas! no i longer were they Starlight and Alone. I Their very bodies were changed. The\ i both looked alike, and both were clad j in a dark brown. Neptune indeed had I vented his anger on them anti turned I them into seals —seals td guard his ; kingdom, north and south, they and ; their children after them, for ever- , more. For-in, time, after, a very cold winter, when the ice floes drifted far south some of their children—young seals were carried away to the southern ice- fields, and so we find seals wandering in the great ice .fields of the north and south, guarding forever the utmost edges of land ami sea. So, dear children, this is how fhc wonderful mammals, the seals, came into existence.