Sea-weed had washed up and clung there ; sea-birds had made nests there ; land-birds and the winds had carried seeds there , which had sprung up ; trunks of trees had been cast there by the sea ; lizards , insects , and little animals came with the trees , and were the first inhabitants ; and , behold ! it was an island . '' `` What did you say then ? '' asked Freddy . `` I was angry , and did n't want to own that I was wrong ; so I insisted that it was n't a real island , without people on it . ` Wait a little longer , ' answered the polypes ; and went on , building broader and broader foundations . I flounced away in a rage , and did n't go back for a great while . I hoped something would happen to the coral builders and their island ; but I was so curious that I could n't keep away , and , on going back there , I found a settlement of fishermen , and the beginning of a thriving town . Now I should have been in a towering passion at this , if in my travels I had n't discovered a race of little creatures as much smaller than polypes as a mouse is smaller than an elephant . I heard two learned men talking about diatoms , as they sailed to Labrador ; and I listened . They said these people lived in both salt and fresh water , and were found in all parts of the world . They were a glassy shell , holding a soft , golden-yellow substance , and that they were so countless that banks were made of them , and that a town here in these United States was founded on them . They were the food of many little sea-animals , who , in turn , fed us big creatures , and were very interesting and wonderful . I saved up this story ; and , when the polypes asked if they had n't done what they intended , I told them I did n't think it so very remarkable , for the tiny diatoms made cities , and were far more astonishing animals than they . I thought that would silence them ; but they just turned round , and informed me that my diatoms were plants , not animals , -- so my story was all humbug . Then I was mad ; and could n't get over the fact that these little rascals had done what we , the kings of the sea , could n't do . I was n't content with being the biggest creature there : I wanted to be the most skilful also . I did n't remember that every thing has its own place and use , and should be happy in doing the work for which it was made . I fretted over the matter a long while , and at last decided to make an island myself . '' `` How could you ? ''
asked XXXXX .
Freddy Labrador Sea-weed States first humbug land-birds polypes sea-animals sea-birds