Next morn they got up early,—
The day was bright and fine;
So they dressed and had their breakfast,
And were out by half-past nine.
Ah! how they loved the crested waves,
And what merry games they had,
As they danced about bare-footed;
They had never felt so glad.
Star fish and jelly fish they caught,
Whilst of shells they had a store;
There seemed no end to the pretty things
They found upon the shore.
They built huge castles up with sand,
And dug around deep moats,
Which they filled with pails of water,
Then sailed their tiny boats.
And sea-weeds of all colours
Came floating in with the foam;
They were wond’rous bright and beautiful,
For they grew in the mermaid’s home.
But the crabs they liked the least of all
The fishes in the sea;
For they pinched whenever they got a chance,—
So the children let them be.
One day they had a splendid treat:
What it was you’d like to know;
So look below at the picture,—
For that, I think, will show.
