A bath in the sea! How refreshing it is! At first Clarence was afraid,
and would scream with all his might, and he is more timid now than he
will be when he learns how to swim.
Hazel is not afraid. She does not go far from shore, and enjoys sporting
in the cool soft water. Clarence keeps her busy. The water that is
shallow for Hazel, is deep for him. He is a small boy.
“Oh! oh! oh!” cries Clarence. “There’s a fish nibbling my toe!”
“Nonsense!” says Hazel. “A kick and a splash will scare them all away.
Now I will teach you how to swim.”
“I’m afraid! I’ll drown!” cries Clarence.
“If you’re afraid, you will. But you must learn not to be afraid. Salt
water is strong and will hold you up. And besides, I am here to take
care of you.”
So Hazel puts her hand under him and Clarence stretches himself, face
downward, on top of the water. Then he folds his hands together, and
spreads them out again, pushing the water away from him, and using his
feet as paddles, and is quite proud of his success. He wants to learn
how to swim, so that if he should go out in a boat and be thrown
over-board, he could keep his head above water until help came.
When Clarence comes out of the water he must be well rubbed, and oh, how
his cheeks will glow! Then he must take a run on the shore.