It was of no use to tell her that there were no mermaids : Fancy firmly believed in them , and was sure she would see one some day . The other children called the seals mermaids ; and were contented with the queer , shiny creatures who played in the water , lay on the rocks , and peeped at them with soft , bright eyes as they sailed by . Fancy was not satisfied with seals , -- they were not pretty and graceful enough for her , -- and she waited and watched for a real mermaid . On this day she took a breezy run with the beach-birds along the shore ; she planted a pretty red weed in her garden ; and let out the water-beetles and snails who had passed the night in her palace . Then she went to a rock that stood near the quiet nook where she played alone , and sat there looking for a mermaid as the tide came in ; for it brought her many curious things , and it might perhaps bring a mermaid . As she looked across the waves that came tumbling one over the other , she saw something that was neither boat nor buoy nor seal . It was a queer-looking thing , with a wild head , a long waving tail , and something like arms that seemed to paddle it along . The waves tumbled it about , so Fancy could not see very well : but , the longer she looked , the surer she was that this curious thing was a mermaid ; and she waited eagerly for it to reach the shore . Nearer and nearer it came , till a great wave threw it upon the sand ; and Fancy saw that it was only a long piece of kelp , torn up by the roots . She was very much disappointed ; but , all of a sudden , her face cleared up , she clapped her hands , and began to dance round the kelp , saying : `` I 'll make a mermaid myself , since none will come to me . '' Away she ran , higher up the beach , and , after thinking a minute , began her work . Choosing a smooth , hard place , she drew with a stick the outline of her mermaid ; then she made the hair of the brown marsh-grass growing near by , arranging it in long locks on either side the face , which was made of her prettiest pink and white shells , -- for she pulled down her palace to get them . The eyes were two gray pebbles ; the neck and arms of larger , white shells ; and the dress of sea-weed , -- red , green , purple , and yellow ; very splendid , for Fancy emptied her garden to dress her mermaid . `` People say that mermaids always have tails ; and I might make one out of this great leaf of kelp . But it is n't pretty , and I do n't like it ; for I want mine to be beautiful : so I wo n't have any tail , '' said Fancy , and put two slender white shells for feet , at the lower edge of the fringed skirt . She laid a wreath of little star-fish across the brown hair , a belt of small orange-crabs round the waist , buttoned the dress with violet snail-shells , and hung a tiny white pebble , like a pearl , in either ear . `` Now she must have a glass and a comb in her hand , as the song says , and then she will be done , '' said Fancy , looking about her , well pleased . Presently she found the skeleton of a little fish , and his backbone made an excellent comb ; while a transparent jelly-fish served for a glass , with a frame of cockle-shells round it . Placing these in the hands of her mermaid , and some red coral bracelets on her wrists , Fancy pronounced her done ; and danced about her , singing : `` My pretty little mermaid , Oh ! come , and play with me : I 'll love you , I 'll welcome you ; And happy we shall be . ''
Now , while she had been working , the tide had crept higher and higher ; and , as she sung , one wave XXXXX up and wet her feet .
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