John Pettigrew's Mirror
One stormy afternoon John took a sack, and went down to the sea shore to gather drift-wood. The shore was a treasure trove of shells amidst glistening seaweed ribbons, and as the great waves broke upon the strand the wind blew their spray into his eyes. The watery sun caught the foam, to throw dancing rainbow mirrors across the swell. Across the ever rising and falling sea he saw two seals, a mother and her pup. Floating like two corks, they played - diving through the waves, then returning to the surface once more to gaze at John with shining eyes. He recalled how it is said that they possess all the wisdom of the great unknowable. As the wind sent greater gusts, and the sun withdrew in the gathering storm, he made his way homewards, smiling to himself as he caught one last glimpse of
the joyful play of the seals. Later, as the night grew dark and stormy, and as the rain lashed the window panes and the wind rattled the door, John sat musing by his fireside. Suddenly he was aroused from his reverie by a thud against the door, as a great wave struck it, and by a strange cry as the wave retreated down the beach. Neither bleat nor bark nor the groan of a man, the unearthly sound sent a shiver down John's spine. But, in such a storm as it was that night, John knew he must open his door to it - even if it were a fiend from Hell itself. As John opened the door the lamp flared and went out. The fire roared then sent a billow of smoke into the room. John could barely see as he stooped over the fur-coated bundle that lay in a pool of water at the threshold. Dragging the bundle into the room, John slammed the door shut just as another towering wave crashed over the sea wall. He relit the lamp, then peered down at the strange bundle that lay at his feet. It was a seal, laying still and silent with eyes closed - "Dead and gone" said John to himself. He thought sadly of the seals that he had watched, that very afternoon, when he had been collecting driftwood on the beach. How joyous had been their play, and how sad that this little one should play no more. Shaking his head, John stooped to run his hand along the sodden grey body at his feet. At this there was a wriggle and a sigh. The dimmed eyes rekindled, and the young seal gazed up at John with unutterable wisdom. Startled and delighted, he gathered up the seal and laid it on the hearth rug. John brought his unexpected guest some milk to drink, and the fish that he had intended for his supper. Then, remembering how it is said that seals like music, he played for it some tunes on his harmonica. The seal wriggled and cried appreciatively, so John played some more. It was a merry evening that John and the seal spent together, and as the hour grew late they both nodded off to sleep - the seal on the hearth rug, and John on
the settle. John slept but fitfully that night, for in his dreams the mother seal came to him with tears flowing from her eyes in silver streams. It seemed that if he did not stem the flow of those tears that they would drown the whole world. So at first light, when the storm had blown itself out and the sea heaved grey and sullen, John carried his new friend down to the shore. He made his way carefully across the great heaps of stones and seaweed cast up by the angry tide, then waded a few steps into the water, to push the seal out into the deep. But the little creature spun round and around then heaved itself out of the foam to lead the way, with a pitiful cry, back to John's yard. So John dragged his boat down to the water, lifted the seal aboard, then rowed out into the bay. When they were a good distance from the shore John dropped the seal gently overboard, bid him a fond farewell, and started to row back toward the shore - but once more the seal cried so pitifully that John was obliged to take it into the boat again. John thought then that the seal must feel unable to fend for itself, and so he tried calling to the seal mother. He called and called, but she was nowhere to be seen. So, thinking that he must look after the seal for a little longer, John pulled for home while the seal lay in the bottom of the boat and watched him with wise eyes. When they returned to the cottage John's cousin Sarah was there, sweeping sand from the doorway.
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