Part 22 (1/2)

”She isn't 'the only pebble on the beach' for that weakness,” commented Fred, looking at his elder sister.

”Chump Mark for Fred-he used slang!” cried Elizabeth.

But Zan was busy watching the Guide fill her gla.s.s jar with certain pebbles, and the hint to bestow a Chump Mark was pa.s.sed by.

The jar filled, Miss Miller filled the remaining crevices with salt water, then screwed the lid on the jar.

”Now, look at this-isn't it pretty? Do you think a bottle of these beautifully coloured and veined sea pebbles will elicit an interest if sent to a sick friend or a bed-ridden child in a Home?” asked the Guide, holding the jar at arm's length that all could see the varied hued pebbles which were enhanced by the salt water.

”Aren't they just lovely! But where under the sun did you ever hear of these things, Miss Miller?” cried Jane.

”I wish we had baskets to hold a bushel of these pebbles and we could fill lots of wide-mouthed bottles from Dad's office to present to his little patients at the Children's Hospital,” said Zan.

”We might fill the empty boxes we were going to burn up when we cleaned up camp,” suggested Hilda.

”Boys, you run up to the camp and bring us the boxes while we collect the prettiest stones we can find,” said Zan, leading the way along the beach.

The boys did as ordered and, the tide running out fast by this time, the girls soon found marvelously figured and coloured pebbles left on the sand.

”Now that we are at this collecting work I may as well add the secrets of the sh.e.l.ls. If you place various shapes and kinds of sh.e.l.ls with the pebbles the bottle will look even prettier than if filled with stones alone,” suggested Miss Miller.

”Elena, do you see these deep white scallop sh.e.l.ls? They make splendid paint-cups for water-colours. I always use them in preference to china dishes,” said the Guide, turning to the artist.

”Girls, let us gather as many as you think we will need this winter for our art-work!” exclaimed Zan, and thereupon, the girls busied themselves with the new diversion.

”Here we are, Miss Miller, what shall we do with the boxes we were sent for?” called Fiji, sliding down the steep incline of the sand-dune.

”Oh-let the boys find the pebbles and fill the boxes for us while we collect the sh.e.l.ls,” cried Jane, looking at the Guide for approval.

”Do you boys wish to do that?” asked she.

”Cert. Anything you say. We haven't a thing to do until church is over, you know,” laughed Jack.

”Meaning this Sunday enjoyment? Well, it is a heap more fun than I would have believed possible,” declared Zan.

”As long as the boys are doing that work I can show you girls some other secrets,” said Miss Miller, looking for deep large-sized clam sh.e.l.ls cleansed as only the sea can wash a sh.e.l.l.

”This kind of sh.e.l.l make the nicest kind of ramekins for baked fish, or tarts, and other small side-dishes. They also can be used for bone-dishes or small side-plates when camping.

”Now see these yellow opalescent sh.e.l.ls? Well, they make pretty salt and pepper dishes. Even for a city table, they are unique and artistic. I have often grouped three in some glue on a round wooden disk and decorated the wood with pyrography and then used the small sea-snail sh.e.l.ls to glue under the three centre pieces. It looked too pretty for anything when completed and ready to send to a friend for a gift.

”I also have made pin-cus.h.i.+ons of two fitted scallop sh.e.l.ls. The hollow is filled with saw-dust, and a strip of satin or velvet covering the slight aperture made by the opened sh.e.l.ls is glued inside the sh.e.l.ls. A ribbon sewed to the hinge of the sh.e.l.l is used to hang the cus.h.i.+on on the side of the dressing-table mirror.”

”Oh dear me, Miss Miller, wait a minute till we get time to take it all in,” laughed Elena, eager to note everything the Guide said.

”Girls, let's collect the sh.e.l.ls necessary for the things Miss Miller explains about, and then we can have her teach us how to make the things some day at the Gym,” suggested Zan.

”That's a good idea. Now, Miss Miller, what else do you know about sh.e.l.l secrets?” added Jane.

”I have made beautiful portieres of these golden paper sh.e.l.ls. Most of them have a small hole in the end-see there? And some haven't the tiny perforation-these I burn in with a red-hot hatpin so that each sh.e.l.l may be threaded on a strong length of j.a.panese cord. This cord is finer and stronger than any made in this country, and is used for bead-curtains and reed portieres.