The White Seal

           Oh!hushthee,mybaby,thenightisbehindus,

           Andblackarethewatersthatsparkledsogreen.

           Themoon,o’erthecombers,looksdownwardtofindus

           Atrestinthehollowsthatrustlebetween.

           Wherebillowmeetsbillow,thensoftbethypillow,

           Ah,wearyweeflipperling,curlatthyease!

           Thestormshallnotwakethee,norsharkovertakethee,

           Asleepinthearmsoftheslow-swingingseas!

           SealLullaby

           AllthesethingshappenedseveralyearsagoataplacecalledNovastoshnah,orNorthEastPoint,ontheIslandofSt.Paul,awayandawayintheBeringSea.Limmershin,theWinterWren,toldmethetalewhenhewasblownontotheriggingofasteamergoingtoJapan,andItookhimdownintomycabinandwarmedandfedhimforacoupleofdaystillhewasfittoflybacktoSt.Paul’sagain.Limmershinisaveryquaintlittlebird,butheknowshowtotellthetruth.

           NobodycomestoNovastoshnahexceptonbusiness,andtheonlypeoplewhohaveregularbusinesstherearetheseals.Theycomeinthesummermonthsbyhundredsandhundredsofthousandsoutofthecoldgraysea.ForNovastoshnahBeachhasthefinestaccommodationforsealsofanyplaceinalltheworld.

           SeaCatchknewthat,andeveryspringwouldswimfromwhateverplacehehappenedtobein-wouldswimlikeatorpedo-boatstraightforNovastoshnahandspendamonthfightingwithhiscompanionsforagoodplaceontherocks,asclosetotheseaaspossible.SeaCatchwasfifteenyearsold,ahugegrayfursealwithalmostamaneonhisshoulders,andlong,wickeddogteeth.