Sea-side pleasures; or, A peep at Miss Eldon's happy pupils

Preface

My dear Young Friends,

To some of you, I doubt not, many incidents in the following pages will be perfectly familiar; for, although names, places, &c. are altered, most of the circumstances therein recorded, and many of the pleasant walks there described, have been enjoyed or witnessed in your society, or mentioned to you after their occurrence to myself. This will, I hope, rather increase the interest to you, as it has done to myself, by recalling the pleasant days that are past.

Many of you will remember the delight with which we then discovered a new wild flower, shell, or sea-weed, and tried to find out its properties or peculiarities. With a few, perhaps,

Vlll

PREFACE.

this interest has altogether ceased ; while, with others, it retains all its freshness and purity.

Be this as it may: it is probable that my little book may be read by some to whom these subjects are altogether new, and I am anxious that, while the little information I here profess to give may interest them sufficiently to make them resolve by all means to acquire more, they should not imagine that enough is taught here to give even a tolerable degree of knowledge on these subjects. Far from it. The object with which I have especially written, is to induce desire for further instruction — to point the young mind, which naturally seeks and requires frequent relaxation, to amusements worthy of its capabilities and high requirements. I have led it to the threshold of the beautiful temple of Natural Science, and trust that the glimpse here afforded may make it truly desirous to gain a standing within its sacred precincts— sacred, because all its trea-

PREFACE.

XI sures are the immediate work of Him, who by his breath caused man to become a living soul, capable of appreciating the wonders of His creating love, and of rejoicing in the works of His hands.

I must not close without acknowledging the obligations I am under to the talented authors of Lessons on Shells, Algm Britannicse, &c. &c. for much interesting anecdote and valuable information; and having done this, I beg to subscribe myself,

My dear young Friends,

Your’s, very sincerely,

E. A. A.

Chap. I

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . , . Page 1

Chap. II

The Voyage — Ships in the River — Nore Light — Arrival at Ramsgate — First Day at the Sea Side — Walk on the Sands — Proposed Pleasures — Sea- Weeds, Fossils, Shells, &c. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Chap. III

Beauties of Creation — Ellen's first Sea- Weeds — Scotch Dulse — Willie’s Shells — Snail Nurseries — Mollusks,

Chap. IV

Three Divisions of Shells — Origin of the Words Univalve, Bivalve and Multivalve — Walk on the Sands — Temper — The Chiton — Visit to the Fisherman’s Cottage — Pholas — Lepas . . . . . . . . . . 27

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CONTENTS.

Chap. VIII

Walk to the West Sands — The Lepas, or Barnacle — The Cement House — The Wreck — A Visitor — Leslie’s Story — An Accident — Dover Castle — The Debtors’

Gaol — Fossils — Pleasant Tidings . . . . . . 75

Introduction

“ And does Dr. Percy think that dear mama is really getting better ?” said Leslie Carlton to his sister Ellen, who had just left her mother’s dressing-room. “ Yes, indeed, Leslie, Dr. Percy hopes that she will soon be quite strong and well ; and I have more good news for you still, so come into the school-room and you shall hear all about it, for it is a pleasure which concerns us all.”

“ A pleasure which concerns us all !” repeated little Mary, whose quick ear had caught her sister’s words as she opened the school-room door. “ Oh tell us, do tell us !” And she jumped from her seat, and put her arms coax-

B

SEA-SIDE PLEASURES.

ingly round Ellen’s neck. But Ellen was at this moment inclined for a little mischief, so she put on a very grave look and declared that she would not tell them any thing about it until they had guessed all round.

“ I know ! I think I know,” said Willie. “ Papa will take us to the Adelaide Gallery at last.”

u Wrong, quite wrong ! Now, Mary, what do you guess?” “ Perhaps aunt Alice has brought me my wax doll,” said the child, her eyes sparkling with pleasure.

“ Why you little goose !” exclaimed Leslie quickly, u how could that be a pleasure to concern us all ; Willie and I could not nurse your doll, could we?” The little girl seemed hurt at her brother’s rough manner, but she quickly recovered her good humour, and begged Leslie to try if he could do better.

He puzzled for some time, and at last said, u That as mama was better, perhaps they were to have a little party to keep Ellen’s birthday which had occurred the week before.”

“ No, indeed,” said Ellen, “ the pleasure we

INTRODUCTION.

are to have is better than all three put together.”

“ What better than the Adelaide Gallery and the diving-bell !” “ Better than a doll with wax legs and arms !” exclaimed Willie and Mary in a breath, “ Oh, Ellen, do, do tell us !”

“ Yes, really, Ellen, you have quite excited our curiosity,” said Miss Eldon, their kind governess, who had been patiently listening to their conversation. “ What can this great pleasure possibly be ?”

“ Well then, you shall hear,” said Ellen. u Dr. Percy thinks dear mama much better, and says, that a few weeks at the sea-side will be more likely to establish her health than any thing else ; and I heard papa promise that he would make every arrangement, and start, if possible, at the end of next week ; and more than that, papa said that the sea-breezes would do us all good, and he and dear mama talked about it a little wrhile, and settled that we were really to go, and then they gave me permission to come and tell you.”

The delight of the children at this pleasant b 2

SEA-SIDE PLEASURES.

intelligence may be easily imagined ; they clapped their hands and jumped about for very joy ! and when Mr. Carlton himself came in and confirmed all that Ellen had told them, there seemed to be no bounds to their happiness.

Perhaps, before we proceed any farther with our story, our young readers would like to know something more of the little girls and boys they have found thus pleasantly interrupted in their morning studies : we shall be very happy to gratify them.

Mrs. Carlton’s family consisted of the two boys and two girls we have already mentioned, and a little interesting baby wTho had not yet left the nursery. Ellen, the eldest of the five, was a tall thoughtful girl of fourteen, kind, amiable and affectionate, ever ready to give pleasure to those around her, and willing, at any moment, to relinquish her own gratification if she could add to that of her brothers and sisters.

Leslie, who had just attained his twelfth year, was, we are sorry, to say, not quite so

INTRODUCTION.

mild and amiable; he was somewhat headstrong and self-willed, but of a generous disposition, and always ready to acknowledge and repair an error.

After the Midsummer vacation, Leslie, whose studies had been hitherto superintended by Miss Eldon, was to enter a public school, and as is frequently the case with boys of his age, he began to think himself already superior to the society of his sisters and their truly excellent governess ; we might have guessed something of the sort from his rather rude speech to poor little Mary about the doll.

Willie was not quite ten years old, and, like his sister Ellen, he was steady and thoughtful beyond his years ; and having always been a delicate child, and unable to partake the rough and boisterous sports in which his brother delighted, had acquired a great taste for reading and quiet study ; he was very fond of history and the many valuable little books written for the entertainment and instruction of the young.

Mary was a merry romp, not six years old, full of life and spirits, and finding it the

SEA-SIDE PLEASURES.

most difficult thing in the world to sit still for five whole minutes together.

As for Lucy, little baby Lucy, she was the happy, laughing, blue-eyed pet of the whole Circle ; even Leslie became gentle and careful when he took the curly-headed darling from her nurse's arms and cantered round the school-room with her on his back. But baby Lucy was not often allowed to visit the school-room, for she was found a sad hindrance to steady lessons of Latin and French.

Until about six months before the time at which our story commences, these dear little ones had not known any thing of trouble or sorrow ; but their kind mama, whom they all most tenderly loved, was then suddenly seized with a severe and dangerous illness, and for many long and tedious weeks Dr. Percy gave no hope that her valuable life could be preserved. Many tears did these dear children shed together, and many anxious hours did they pass in sorrowful suspense ; and when at length they were permitted to steal softly one by one into the darkened chamber, they could

INTRODUCTION.

scarcely believe that the poor, faded, and wasted form before them was indeed that of their own beloved mama. But Mrs. Carlton gradually recovered, and for the last fortnight the children had been allowed to spend an hour or two with her every day ; and now that Dr. Percy had given it as his opinion that a few months at the sea-side would confirm her returning health and strength, we cannot wonder that they were indeed thankful and happy, and that this hope, added to the anticipated pleasure of a visit to Ramsgate, should have made the week that preceded their departure seem a very very long one to their ardent wishes. But there were boxes to pack, and summer dresses to be thought about, and dolls and favourite books to be put carefully away, so the days glided by one after another, and still left some pleasant preparation to occupy to-morrow. Poor Miss Eldon, the only one of the party who had ever visited the Kentish coast, was constantly assailed with wonders and inquiries respecting all they were to see and enjoy, now that the long dreary winter

SEA-SIDE PLEASURES.

had given place to merry spring, and the foggy air and formal pavements of London were to be exchanged for sea-breezes, and joyous rambles on the pier and sands.

Chapter II

THE VOYAGE— SHIPS IN THE RIVER — NORE LIGHT— AR- RIVAL AT RAMSGATE —FIRST DAY AT THE SEA SIDE —WALK ON THE SANDS — PROPOSED PLEASURES— SEA-WEEDS, FOSSILS, SHELLS, &C.

The expected day came at length, and surely a May morning full of sunshine and beauty never greeted a happier or gayer circle.

Two coaches were at the door at a very early hour, and long before nine o’clock they were all safely on board the gaily painted steampacket, which was to convey them to Ramsgate.

The fresh sweet air seemed to invigorate and refresh the still feeble invalid. She had borne the fatigue of the ride better than they had hoped, and was just comfortably settled on a sofa in the saloon, when the warning bell ceased ringing and the vessel began to move. The paddle wheels turned swiftly round, the tall masts of the ships in the river rapidly disappeared, and our little friends were very glad to

SHIPS IN THE RIVER.

find that they were losing sight of London, and travelling smoothly and pleasantly on the quiet water.

Little Mary, who with Miss Eldon’s arm tightly grasping her, was leaning over the side of the vessel, called eagerly to Willie to come and see the soap-suds ; and while Willie explained to her that the white foam she saw was occasioned by the constant splashing of the paddles, Leslie seized his papa’s arm and begged he would explain to him, how so large a vessel should really be made to move with the steam of boiling water.

Ellen was all this time quietly seated at her mama’s side, and the dear child found more pleasure in thus contributing to her happiness and comfort, than she would have done in all the novelty and excitement of the deck. In this manner, Greenwich, Woolwich and Gravesend were speedily passed, and many a fine vessel and swift sailing packet excited the wonder and admiration of the young travellers.

Between twelve and one o’clock, they reached the Nore Light, and Willie was quite astonished

ARRIVAL AT RAMSGATE.

to think that men could be found bold and hardy enough to live in so small a vessel in the middle of the water, and exposed to so much danger.

“ Oh, my boy,” said Mr. Carlton, who heard his remark, “ you know very little at present of the dangers of the ocean, and of the bravery of those poor fellows who constantly expose their lives upon its wild billows ; we owe much to seamen, Willie, for their dauntless courage ; they are generally speaking noble fellows, and deserve the gratitude and kindness of their countrymen.”

But we must not spare time to describe all the pleasure and instruction the passage afforded. Many of our little readers are doubtless already acquainted with its attractions, and we trust that all may one day enjoy the gratification for themselves. Merrily as the day passed, the children all joyfully hailed the first announcement that Ramsgate was in sight, and very glad were they, after the hurry and bustle of landing was over, to find themselves in their new and pleasant home, and to rest their poor weary heads on their welcome pillows.

FIRST DAY AT THE SEA-SIDE.

The fatigues of the previous day did not prevent Leslie from waking at an early hour the ensuing morning, and he was so full of curiosity and eagerness that he jumped quickly out of bed, and having roused his brother, the two boys hastily dressed and amused themselves in the drawing-room balcony, for a full hour before their papa and sisters came down to breakfast. The morning meal was quickly despatched, and Miss Eldon having promised to remain with Mrs. Carlton, the kind papa and his happy little ones sallied forth for their first ramble on the sea-shore.

We cannot mention all the curious and beautiful things they saw and talked about. Amusement and pleasure seemed to surround them on every side. Little Mary wanted a ride on one of the donkeys on which she found little boys and girls so happily mounted. Leslie thought it must be the most delightful thing in the world to be sailing in one of the pretty, pleasant-looking boats, with their snow white sails and gay coloured streamers, while Ellen and Willie busily employed themselves

PROPOSED PLEASURES.

in searching for shells and pebbles, and other curiosities which they found plentifully scattered along the sea-shore. They returned home quite tired, but with much to tell and many important questions to ask. And as the sky clouded over in the afternoon, and frequent showers of rain made the ground damp and uncomfortable, they were obliged to content themselves at home for the remainder of the day.

When dinner was over, and the children had retired to their own sitting-room, Miss Eldon told them that she had a plan to propose which she thought would add much to their happiness and amusement during their stay at the sea-side, which Mr. Carlton had proposed should extend to two whole months. “ And this, my dears,” she added, “ would be a long time, indeed, to spend in wandering from place to place, without acquiring useful knowledge of any kind. I think, my dear children, that none of you would feel quite happy in leading a life so useless and idle.”

“ But, Miss Eldon,” interrupted Leslie,

PROPOSED PLEASURES.

“ you do not surely mean that we are all to sit down to our regular lessons, the same as we did in London ; I should not like that at all.”

“ No indeed, Leslie, I have no such intention ; and I think you will believe this when I tell you that I have promised your mama to relinquish my own holiday, which I usually spend with my friends in Leicester, in order that your pleasure may not be shortened, but that you may enjoy the whole of the visit here, and not have your studies interrupted again.”

The children crowded round their kind friend, to kiss and thank her for this new proof of her affection; and Leslie, who felt ashamed of the warmth with which he had spoken, entreated Miss Eldon to tell them her plans, for he was quite sure they would all like to follow them.

“You shall do just as you please, my dear boy; my only wish is to add to your happiness and comfort; but you must judge for yourselves. I know that Ellen will be unwilling to neglect her music, and I think you proposed to read a little Latin with your papa, but I foresaw

SEA-WEEDS.

that without settled and full employment, time would naturally drag heavily on your hands. I therefore persuaded your papa, before we left London, to make several little purchases, which I shall now joyfully put into the hands of those who are willing to make use of them. You, dear Ellen, have already a very nice collection of dried plants and flowers, and you have now a good opportunity of adding to them some of the beautiful sea-weeds with which this coast abounds. The algae, or sea weeds, together with grasses, lichens and mosses, form, as I dare say you will recollect, the lowest order of botany, cryptogamia. I shall be happy to render you any assistance in collecting and arranging them; and although the names are often difficult, and the study requires care and attention, I have no doubt we shall get on very well.”

Miss Eldon then gave Ellen a pretty little basket, lined with oil-silk, in which to collect her weeds, and a neat portfolio to arrange them in when dry.

“ And what am I to do ?” said Leslie, “ I am

FOSSILS, SHELLS, & C.

so fond of natural history ; but indeed I ought to wait until last, for having been so impatient.” “ Well, Leslie, I will give you the present your papa has provided for you, and you shall try if you can guess its use;” and she put into his hand a large coarse bag of green baize, and an instrument in form and shape very much resembling a small pickaxe. Leslie was quite at a loss; he turned it round and round in his hand, but could not solve the mystery, so he was at length obliged to ask Miss Eldon to explain it to him. “You will remember,” she said, “ going last summer with your mama and papa to visit Mr. Knowles, and that your papa very much admired his valuable collection of fossils, many of which had been found on the Devon and Kentish coasts. You are a famous walker, and with your bag, and pickaxe in your hand, will enjoy accompanying your papa, who is similarly provided, and very anxious to begin his collection. And now for dear Willie, who is not able to work quite so hard.” A little basket was provided for him, similar to Ellen’s,

SHELLS, ETC.

and a square mahogany box, divided into small compartments, each neatly marked with printed tickets; this, Miss Eldon told him, was to contain his collection of shells. “Oh, thank you, dear, kind, good Miss Eldon,” said Willie; “ you knew that I was so fond of shells. Oh how happy we shall all be ! and will you indeed teach me their names, and how to arrange them in my little box ? ”

Their kind friend promised to assist them all, and taking little Mary on her knee, told her, that, although she was not quite old enough to learn about these curious things herself, yet that she too should have a basket, and help Ellen and Willie to collect their weeds and shells. She also gave the little girl a small wooden spade with which to build herself a house or an island whenever she went on the sands.

“What grand people we shall be ! ” said Willie. “ I know what a person who collects shells is called. I remember reading it in the Penny Magazine last week. I shall be a conchologist.”

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SHELLS, ETC.

“ Quite right, my boy; and Ellen will be an algologist, or collector of marine or sea plants ; and Leslie will be a geologist. But now it is tea time, and we must not keep mama waiting.”

Chapter III

BEAUTIES OF CREATION— ELLEN’S FIRST SEA-WEEDS— SCOTCH DULSE — WILLIE’S SHELLS— SNAIL NURSE- RIES—MOLLUSKS, ETC.

Miss Eldon was herself a student of natural history, and the idea had occurred to her, that while a total relaxation from close study seemed necessary for the health of her pupils, yet that by combining information on these subjects with the amusements she wished them to enjoy, she should not only prevent their wearying of pleasure, but be enabled to lead their young hearts in wonder and admiration to dwell upon the glorious works of the Almighty Creator.

Perhaps the little girl or boy who is reading this history may be frequently in the habit of visiting the sea-side, or making excursions into the country, and while every weed and shell, every tree and flower has invited them to come and examine their beauty, and praise the wonderful hand that formed them, they have passed on with an unobservant eye and careless heart, c 2

20 ellen’s first sea-weeds.

Dear little reader, you will lose half the instruction and happiness the Almighty intended you to enjoy, if you pass heedlessly by the thousand beauties which are scattered around you on every hand.

Come now, and let us examine Ellen’s first basket of sea-weed ; did you ever imagine that the wide and boisterous ocean could contain objects so minute and beautiful ? See her kind governess is helping her to examine them, and telling her some of their names and orders, Ellen has gathered some of every description to-day, because she was afraid of passing by any valuable specimens; in a little time she will be better able to judge, and will not bring home quite so much rubbish.

“ See, Miss Eldon,” said Ellen, “here are some large coarse weeds ; I suppose I need only preserve parts of them just for specimens; they are not very pretty, but perhaps I had better not throw them away.”

“No, Ellen, your collection will not be complete without them; and although you are not vet old enough to remember their long difficult

SCOTCH DULSE.

names, I shall wish you to learn to distinguish the principal plants, and I hope you will some day be able to arrange and classify them all. You have one treasure here I see among your coarse leaves ; this thick, tough plant, which looks so much like a piece of shoemakers’ leather, is not often found at this season so perfect and rich in colour; it is called in Scotland “ Best dulse,” and is eaten by the Highlanders, and is even yet occasionally sold in the streets of Edinburgh, where, with the tangle, it was once a common commodity. This plant formed almost the only remaining article of food in the time of the dreadful famine in the Scottish Highlands some years since.”

“ Oh dear ! ” exclaimed Willie, u who would think that this dark looking sea-weed could have been so useful and interesting ! but please, dear Ellen, make haste, for I am longing to show Miss Eldon some of my beautiful shells.”

The fine small weeds were now examined, and Miss Eldon directed Ellen to place them in fresh spring water, promising that after dinner she would teach her to preserve them.

willie’s shells.

Willie’s turn came at length, and he found many treasures in his basket, which he was anxious to name and deposit in his box. He had been furnished by his mama with a little book containing some pretty coloured engravings, as well as descriptions of shells, one or two of which he was delighted to find in his collection; but they were much smaller and less beautiful than the drawings before him, and he could not conceal his disappointment.

Miss Eldon explained to him that the shells collected on the English coast are seldom so large and beautifully marked as the species which inhabit hot climates, although they are divided into the same classes and orders.

“ Would you not be surprised, Willie,” she said, “ to find a snail in England, whose shell was large enough to contain ten quarts of liquid? It is related that such a monstrous snail-shell was once in existence, and although I cannot vouch for the truth of the story, yet we are quite certain that they attain to a very large\ size in many parts of the world ; and in Rome, where in ancient days large nurseries were kept

SNAIL NURSERIES.

on purpose for them, they are still eaten and esteemed a great delicacy. But, Willie, I should like your shells regularly arranged, and as the study is at first a little difficult, and will occasion you rather more trouble than you are aware of, I have another plan for you which I think you will like/’

“ Oh I am quite sure of it,” said Willie, u I always like your plans, dear Miss Eldon.”

“ Well, you remember that when uncle William came to see you at Christmas, he was so kind as to give you a sovereign, which you placed in my care until w7e could think of some useful way for disposing of it. Now I know that that there is a little shop in this neighbourhood kept by a poor fisherman, where foreign shells may be purchased at a very moderate price ; and if you like it, I will promise that whenever you conquer the difficulty of learning the description of a shell, with its generic name, we will purchase a pretty foreign one to place with yours, or to supply the place of any you have not been able to procure.”

Willie was delighted, he clapped his hands

MOLLUSKS, ETC.

for joy, and took a shell from his basket that he might begin his lesson at once.

“ No, no, not so fast, Master Willie, if you please. We must learn something about the inhabitants of these pretty little dwellings, before we attempt to examine a separate shell, and we have many other things to talk about ; so listen attentively, and I will explain to you.”

“ Linnaeus, a celebrated naturalist, who lived a great many years ago, rendered the study of shells comparatively easy by dividing them into classes, each known by separate names, and the particular colouring and formation of their several members.

“ It is according to his plan that I intend to teach you, because it is the most simple for beginners, but as there have been many improvements and discoveries since his time in the science of conchology, we shall occasionally make use of the assistance afforded us by other and more recent naturalists. Shells are the coverings or habitations for animals with cold soft bodies, without bones and slimy to the touch. Yet lifeless and uninteresting as these crea-

MOLLUSKS, ETC.

lures appear, they all have nerves, glands, muscles, and a heart, in the vessels of which, instead of blood, a cold white fluid regularly circulates. Some of these curious animals have visible heads, others appear to have none; take an oyster and a snail for example; now, Willie, which of the two has a distinct head?”

“ Oh, the snail, I am sure,” cried little Mary; “ the snail has a head and horns too.”

“Quite right, little Mary,” said Miss Eldon; “ and try to remember, Willie, that those molusks which possess heads generally inhabit a shell consisting only of one piece or valve.”

“ Thank you, ma’am, I will try to remember, and now may I learn something about the dwelling-houses of these curious little fish ?”

“Another time, my dear, but you must not call them fish : remember a snail cannot be called a fish ; but the name by which they are known will apply to all the inhabitants of shells, found either in land or water. They are called Mollusca, rather a difficult name to remember, is it not? But here is pet Lucy come for a romp; we will have another lesson

M0LLUSKS, ETC.

to-morrow, Willie, before breakfast, if you please/’

The children put away their books, and, in less than ten minutes, the whole party were enjoying a delightful game at u Puss catch

Corner/’

Chapter IV

THREE DIVISIONS OF SHELLS — ORIGIN OF THE WORDS UNIVALVE, BIVALVE AND MULTI VALVE — WALK ON THE SANDS — TEMPER — THE CHITON -VISIT TO THE FISHERMAN'S COTTAGE— PHOLAS— LEPAS.

Little Willie was tapping at Miss Eldon’s door at a very early hour the next morning ; he was delighted to find her already dressed, and waiting to fulfil her promise. They went together into the sitting-room, and Miss Eldon put three small shells into Willie’s hand, desiring him to see if he could find any very striking difference between them.