Ē̍ thē´rē̍al: heavenly. Mĭn´strĕl: poet; singer.
Tom Goes down to the Sea
By Charles Kingsley
Charles Kingsley (1819-1875): An English clergyman, who was the author of several popular novels. He wrote two books for children which have become child classics—"The Heroes," a collection of Greek fairy tales, and "The Water-Babies."
This selection is from "The Water-Babies," which is a story about the strange and beautiful changes which go on in the water. Tom was a little chimney sweep whom the fairies changed into a water-baby. He had been a poor, neglected little boy, who was mischievous and unkind because he knew no better. At first he was a mischievous, unkind water-baby, and the water-creatures found no pleasure in playing with him, so that for a while he was very lonely. But, as he learned to be more kind and loving, he won friends. Here is the story of his journey in search of other water-babies, whom at last he found in the great sea.
I
1. And then, on the evening of a very hot day, Tom, the water-baby, saw a sight.