playthings, for it was a mosaic of pebbles, some red as coral or

yellow as amber, and others again white and rounded like birds' eggs

and smoothed and prepared by the sea. Even the bleached fishes'

skeletons, the water plants dried by the wind, and seaweed, white

and shining long linen-like bands waving between the stones- all these

seemed made to give pleasure and occupation for the boy's thoughts,

and he had an intelligent mind; many great talents lay dormant in him.

How readily he remembered stories and songs that he heard, and how