human
He poured the water from me, and out came all the little creatures who had been hiding there!
gpt
Did the tiny creatures get back into the water safely?
human
Oh, yes! the shell whispered in reply.
gpt
The man held me over the side of the boat, so the tiny creatures went safely back into the water!
human
I am so glad! Raggedy Andy said, with a sigh of relief.
gpt
He must have been a kindly man!
human
Yes, indeed! the beautiful shell replied.
gpt
So I was placed along with a lot of other shells in the bottom of the boat and every once in a while another shell was placed amongst us. We whispered together and wondered where we were going. We were finally sold to different people and I have been at Gran'ma's house for a long, long time.
human
You lived there when Gran'ma was a little girl, didn't you?
gpt
Yes, replied the shell,
human
I have lived there ever since Gran'ma was a little girl. She often used to play with me and listen to me sing.
gpt
Raggedy Ann can play 'Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater' on the piano, with one hand, said Uncle Clem,
human
I sing all the time, the shell replied,
gpt
How strange and far away it sounds! exclaimed the French doll.
human
Like fairies singing in the distance! The shell must be singing the songs of the mermaids and the water-fairies!
gpt
It is queer that anything so rough on the outside could be so pretty within! said Raggedy Andy.
human
It must be a great pleasure to be able to sing so sweetly!
gpt
Indeed it is, replied the beautiful shell,
human
And you will bring lots of pleasure to us, by being so happy! said Raggedy Andy.
gpt
For although you may not enter into our games, we will always know that you are happily singing, and that will make us all happy!
human
I will tell you the secret of my singing, said the shell.
gpt
When anyone puts his ear to me and listens, he hears the reflection of his own heart's music, singing; so, you see, while I say that I am singing all the time, in reality I sing only when someone full of happiness hears his own singing as if it were mine.
human
How unselfish you are to say this! said Raggedy Andy.
gpt
Now we are ever so much more glad to have you with us. Aren't we?
human
Yes, indeed!
gpt
That is why the shell is so beautiful inside! said Raggedy Ann.
human
Those who are unselfish may wear rough clothes, but inside they are always beautiful, just like the shell, and reflect to others the happiness and sunny music within their hearts!