Foama's Lace

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 148, 18 March 1939, Page 7 (Supplement)

Foama's Lace

(Original by Annie Laurie (16), Wellington).

“WHERE,” said Jane, "does the foam on the waves come from?” A simple question, but I was at a loss to answer il. "Well . . . ,” I began uneasily. The six-year-old looked expect tint. I thought wildly, where did the foam.on the waves come from? I suppose, I thought, that you’d learn that in geography, and all because of my six-year-old friend I felt angry with myself for not having learnt geography instead of Lathi. What wfis the use of the ablative absolute and oratio obliqua iu a east of emergency like this? “I s’pose,” said Jane, hopefully, "that the mermaids have something to do with it?” The question begged me to say yes. I clutched gratefully al the straw. , , "That’s right, Jane,” I said. “So you want to know where the roam comes from ?” "Yes, please,” said Jane, patiently, just as though she hadn t asked me five minutes before. , "Well, ouee upon a time,” I began, "there was no pretty, frothy foam bn the edge of the waves, but that was a long, long time ago. The sea was very beautiful, even then, but the mermaids used to wish they bad something to trim’the waves with, when they rolled into .shore. King N'eptUbe offered a tremendous prize to any mermaid who should discover a suitable trimming, but. although they tried hard, they did not succeed. Now, one day three lovely mermaids were sitting on the rocks combing their long, lovely locks with mother-of-pearl combs, when suddenly they heard the voice of someone singing "0-oh. who was it?” said Jane. She never could wait until the story was unfolded. bu( wanted to know all the facts at once. “They slipped among the rock pools,” I continued, ignoring her question, "and peered behind a rock, where they saw a fair maiden.” A-ai,l” breathed Jane, esctatieally. I dreaded what I knew would be her next question. "Now, what did she look like.'’ - "She had, Jane, long, golden hair, which flowed down her back like—like golden rain—(it bad not been long since November o)-and her eyes were blue as the violets, her lips were like rosebuds, her cheeks like coral, her teeth like pearls, her figure like a willow tree, her voice like a lark.’ I stopped, my supply of similes exhausted. Jane revelled in it.

"Go on,” she said eagerly. . "But, Jane,” I said, mysteriously, "do you know what she was doing. Jane did not know. Neither did I. until I suddenly had an inspiration. “She was sitting there among the rocks making the most beautiful, tilmy iace you can possibly imagine. It was spread over her knees in a showv. soft heap; The mermaids stared. The su.iue thought came to them all. Very silently they slid over the rocks.” I saw Jane look behind her as though she expected to see them coming across the rocks towards her. “And then, quieklv, quietly, they captured her. and bore her away to the palace of the Sen Klug. ’We have brought. O King,’ they cried, ‘a maiden who can weave for us from our sea materials, lace with which we can trim the edges of the mighty waves. See. here is some of her work, made ti-oiu rut material of the earth world: with our sea-silk she will be able lo make yet more lovely lace.’ . , . v . "All this time the poor earth maiden wept piteously, and King Neptune said, for he was a kind-hearted old man, "•Why dost thou weep, fair earthling? Dost thou not wish to dwell with the sea people l ’? . . “The poor maiden replied, ‘Alas, your Majesty. I was to be utd to morrow to the Prince of Happiness, ami that lace winch you hold i.- my weddiiig veil.' x "‘ls it possible.' asked the kind old King, ’that you could impart join knowledge to some of the mermaids? If you could do that you could return to earth, as soon as you wish.’ , , , “Tndee-d, I could, your Majesty,’ said the captive eagerly, and so it was arranged. Very soon the mermaids knew the secret, and they rejoiced 10 think that no longer need the waves be undeeorated. Ami. what a Hiss lliev made of the earthling who had taught them such au art. At lasi i he time came for her to say farewell, ami. as she stood before the King, lie asked: t "’What may be your mime, fair child of the earth . "T am the Princess Foama,’ replied she. ■ , . , “‘To honour von for the service you have done tls, 1 rtneess. we Mia 11 call the lovely thing you have taught us to make, by your name, said He. "So. Jane, ever since then the sea has been decorated with J'on ma s lace, ami. as tlie years have passed, the mermaids have shorleued its mime to •toflm. That is where tlie foam comes from, tlie caverns of tlie sea-lolk

' 111 jam? l looked contented. My explanation had pleased her. But what, 1 wonder, will be the next question she asks me?