the back parlor bedroom, where a piece of tin could be used for a
looking glass.

All at once Lulu's mamma called to her:

"Lulu, I want you to go to the store to get some acorn meal and a yeast
cake. I am going to set bread to-night. Hurry, now, that's a good girl."

"All right, mamma," answered Lulu, and she steered herself around, just
like a motorboat in the water, and started for the store, paddling as hard
as she could.

She had not gone very far, with the little ripples and waves chasing each
other across the pond, before she saw something swimming close beside her.
Lulu looked down, and what do you think she saw? Well, you might guess,
but then again, you might not, so I'll tell you. It was a gold fish.

Oh, it was such a beautiful gold fish, with red and silvery spots and
streaks, and a long, feathery tail that looked like lace in the water.

"Hello!" exclaimed Lulu; "I didn't know you lived here."

"Oh, yes," answered the fish. "I have lived here for some time, but, you
see, during the cold weather I stay down in the mud. However, as it is now
spring, I have come up, and I am going to play around all summer."

"That's nice," remarked Lulu. "What's your name?"

"My name is Fannie Tail," replied the fish. "You see I got that name
because my tail is shaped like a fan, but most persons just call me Fan
Tail. You may, if you like."

"All right," agreed Lulu. "I will. My name is Lulu, but you may call me
Lu, if you wish."

"Good," answered the fish, turning a double somersault in the water and
wiggling her right fin as if trying to shake hands. "Now we are well
acquainted. And may I ask where you are going?"

So Lulu told the fish girl about having to go to the store, and Fan seemed
quite pleased to hear it. The two swam on together for some distance, the
fish just under the water and Lulu on top. Pretty soon Lulu asked Fan
where she was going, and the gold fish replied:

"I am going to the drug store for some sweet flag root for the fairy
prince," and once more the fish girl turned a double somersault and opened
her mouth wide, for she had a cold in her head, in consequence of being so
wet. But as it is very difficult to write a story and make a gold fish
talk as if she had a cold in the head, I have decided to make Fan talk
just ordinarily. You never would have known anything about the cold if I
hadn't mentioned it, so it's just as well.

"Pardon me," said Lulu, just like a telephone girl, "but did