第29部分(第3/7 頁)

ny　merchant　in　New　England；　but　the　larger　part　ofthem　foundered　near　the　shore。　She　seized　a　live　horse…shoe　by　thetail；　and　made　prize　of　several　five…fingers；　and　laid　out　ajelly…fish　to　melt　in　the　warm　sun。　Then　she　took　up　the　white　foam；that　streaked　the　line　of　the　advancing　tide；　and　threw　it　upon　thebreeze；　scampering　after　it；　with　winged　footsteps；　to　catch　the　greatsnowflakes　ere　they　fell。　Perceiving　a　flock　of　beach…birds；　thatfed　and　fluttered　along　the　shore；　the　naughty　child　picked　up　herapron　full　of　pebbles；　and；　creeping　from　rock　to　rock　after　thesesmall　sea…fowl；　displayed　remarkable　dexterity　in　pelting　them。　Onelittle　grey　bird；　with　a　white　breast；　Pearl　was　almost　sure；　had　beenhit　by　a　pebble；　and　fluttered　away　with　a　broken　wing。　But　then　theelf…child　sighed；　and　gave　up　her　sport；　because　it　grieved　her　tohave　done　harm　to　a　little　being　that　was　as　wild　as　the　sea…breeze；or　as　wild　as　Pearl　herself。 Her　final　employment　was　to　gather　sea…weed；　of　various　kinds；　andmake　herself　a　scarf；　or　mantle；　and　a　head…dress；　and　thus　assume　theaspect　of　a　little　mermaid。　She　inherited　her　mother's　gift　fordevising　drapery　and　costume。　As　the　last　touch　to　her　mermaid　garb；Pearl　took　some　eel…grass；　and　imitated；　as　best　she　could；　on　her　ownbosom；　the　decoration　with　which　she　was　so　familiar　on　hermother's。　A　letter…　the　letter　A…　but　freshly　green；　instead　ofscarlet！　The　child　bent　her　chin　upon　her　breast；　and　contemplatedthis　device　with　strange　interest；　even　as　if　the　one　only　thing　forwhich　she　had　been　sent　into　the　world　was　to　make　out　its　hiddenimport。 〃I　wonder　if　mother　will　ask　me　what　it　means？〃　thought　Pearl。 Just　then；　she　heard　her　mother's　voice；　and　flitting　along　aslightly　as　one　of　the　little　sea…birds；　appeared　before　Hest