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from the window with a sigh。 〃I feel sleepy already；〃 she said； 〃and it's
only supper time！〃
〃We'll tell the porter to make up our berths；〃 said the Mermaid
Princess。 He can do it while we are having our supper in the dining car。〃
On their return they found their berth in readiness。 Soft green
seaweed curtains hung gracefully to the floor； one of them being drawn
aside； showing a little white bed。 It looked as comfortable as her own
little bed at home； Mary Louise thought。
It took the two little mermaids but a few minutes to undress； and as
soon as their tired heads touched the pillow they were sound asleep。
Softly the seabells are ringing away； Dipping and dripping and white
with the spray； Ding…dong； and ding…dong； and ding…dong； so deep； The
seabells are singing me softly to sleep。
Over and over again in her dreams little Mary Louise repeated this
song。 Then suddenly the bells seemed to change their tune。 They
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clanged out wildly until a sudden loud crash awoke her with a start。 The
engine whistle was sending forth loud； warning cries。 The Mermaid
Princess began to tremble with fright。
〃What do you suppose is the matter？〃 she whispered。
〃I'm sure I don't know；〃 replied little Mary Louise。 〃Perhaps there's
something on the track。〃
By this time all the passengers were thrusting their heads out through
the curtains of their berths。
〃Porter； Porter！〃 called the Penguin； who had been vainly pressing the
electric call…button。
But as usual； when a porter was wanted he is nowhere to be found。
Then the Baby Seal began to cry。 Suddenly all the lights went out。
Mary Louise hastily caught up her clothes and commenced dressing。
〃Thank goodness；〃 she said in a trembling voice； 〃I don't have to bother
with stockings！〃
〃I never was anything but a Mermaid；〃 said the Princess in a
frightened whisper； 〃so I don't know anything about them！〃
〃Where's my waist？〃 asked Mary Louise； hardly able to keep from
crying。 〃I can't find it anywhere； and it's so dreadfully dark； too。〃
〃Oh； dear me！〃 suddenly cried the Mermaid Princess。 〃I believe I'm
trying to get yours on over mine。 I'm so excited I forgot that I already
had on my own。〃
〃Well； I'm dressed at last；〃 exclaimed Mary Louise after wriggling and
squirming about for a few minutes longer。 〃Isn't it awful hard work
dressing in a berth？〃
Suddenly the engine bell clanged out more furiously than ever。 The
whistle shrieked again and again。 Mary Louise looked with frightened
eyes at the princess who gave a cry of terror and threw her arms about her
neck as the lights again went out。 Then there was a sudden crash； and the
Iceberg Express shivered and toppled over。
The next instant Mary Louise and the Mermaid Princess found
themselves in the water。
It was quite warm and pleasant； and in a few minutes they reached the
surface。 To their surprise they saw their fellow passenger； the little Star
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The Iceberg Express
Fish； swimming near them； and not far away； on a piece of ice； the Polar
Bear porter。
〃Where are we？〃 asked Mary Louise。 But no one replied to her
question； although the Star Fish looked all around； before and behind and
both sides at once； which I'm sure you can't do no matter how hard you
may trywhile with his fifth eye he kept a bright lookout for sharks。
Presently the Polar Bear porter replied； 〃I think we are in the
Caribbean Sea。〃
And if you don't know where that is； please get out you map of North
America； although school is over； and find it。
〃I never thought we'd get here so soon；〃 said the little Star Fish at last。
〃You see； I boarded the train somewhere off Cape Cod。 And that's a long
way from here。〃
〃I got on much farther north；〃 said the Polar Bear porter； fanning
himself with a large sea shell。 〃Gracious me； but it's dreadfully hot down
here。〃
〃This Caribbean Sea is as full of mountains as New Hampshire and
Vermont are； but none of them have caps of snow like that which Mount
Washington sometimes wears；〃 said the Mermaid Princess。 〃Snow
wouldn't last a second under this hot sun。〃
〃Where did you learn all this？〃 asked Mary Louise。
〃Oh； I went to the Coral School for Girls；〃 answered the Mermaid
Princess； and she sighed； for she suddenly remembered she was a long
way from home。
Just then the little Star Fish met a soft little body； much smaller than
himself； who invited him to visit her relatives； who live； by millions； in
this mountain region。
So off they started for Coraltown； where this little Miss Polyp lived。
Her father and mother； brothers and sisters； uncles and aunts； were all
polyps。 they had built the coral islands by fastening themselves to the
tops of the mountains under the sea； year after year； and at last their soft
bodies had turned into stone。 And now you know how these millions of
little polyps finally made the small islands that dotted the surface of the
water。
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The Iceberg Express
After the Star Fish and his little friend had swum away； Mary Louise
spied a boat drifting toward them。 So she and the Mermaid Princess
scrambled inside； and the polar Bear porter hoisted a sail； which he found
wrapped around a mast in the bottom of the boat。
〃Hip； hurrah； we're off once more；〃 Shouted the Polar Bear； waving his
paw； And the Mermaid Princess laughed in glee As he held the tiller and
sailed o'er the sea！
By and by the air became colder and the Mermaid said：
〃We must be near my father's castle。 I think I'll slip into the ocean
and swim home。〃
〃Before you go； please comb my hair with your magic comb so that I
may be a little girl again；〃 begged Mary Louise； 〃I don't want to be a
mermaid forever。〃
As soon as the magic pearl comb touched Mary Louise's hair h