Pamela Colman Smith

“ Susan began to feel very queer.
"Give me your hand Grandmother," she called, and her voice sounded like the whisper in the heart of a shell.
"How can I? You are in Oceana," Grandmother laughed back.
"Do I have to stay? Will I grow into a mer-child?" Susan cried, and her tears made the water rise so, that she was almost drowned.
Then Grandmother bent her face to the ocean and said some magical words. Instantly the enchanted ring rose and anchored right where Susan tiptoed in her tears. She scrambled up and seated herself upon the pearl, holding fast to the rim as the ring shot up. ”

“ There was chiming of silver bells, and the crash of waves, and sinking through the water and the bottom of the bowl Susan saw the wise face with horn spectacles growing dimmer and dimmer, and found herself swimming hand in hand with the green mermaid who had blue hair and a string of red beads round her neck.
"Has she grown large, or have I grown small?" thought Susan to herself, for she and the mermaid were both the same size.
They swam along a great avenue of coral-trees.
"Much easier than walking on land," said Susan. ”

“ They sat there awhile, and the mermaid said:
"This is a reef, Susan—you have no doubt read in your geography book how they are formed. It is the best place in the world to see a royal procession. It is never overcrowded, as the fish find the air too strong for them, so we mer-people have it to ourselves, but most of us are busy and have little time for sightseeing." ”