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PART VI.
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Pearl. Coral. Amber. Jet.-
" The
sea-born shell conceals the unio round— Called by this name as always
single found. One in one shell, for ne'er a larger race Within their
pearly walls the valves embrace. At certain seasons do the oysters lie
With valves wide gaping towards the teeming sky, And seize the falling
dews, and pregnant breed The shining globules of til' ethereal seed."
The
pearl is an animal product secreted by certain shell mollusca, of
which one kind live in the sea, and the others in fresh water. Pearls
are quite common, but those which have considerable dimensions, joined
to a regular form and beautiful reflections, are rare and of high
price.
Formed
almost exclusively of lime and of an organic matter, the pearl is very
easily acted on; as regards resistance, it has nothing in common with
precious stones, even those most easily destroyed.
The
pearl was dedicated to Venus. It is sacred to love and beauty. In the "
marriage of Cupid and Psyche "—a fine engraving upon sardonyx, wherein
the figures are enveloped in transparent veils, a
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