Chapter X

BESSIE'S mother had an aquarium. If you do not know what that is, I will tell you. The Latin word _aqua_ means water; and the name _aquarium_ has been given to a glass case holding water for fishes and for sea-plants.

One day, when the pretty gold-fishes were not swimming about in a very lively manner, Bessie thought it must be because they were cold. "Poor things!" said she, "there is no fire in the room; and the water feels quite chilly. It must be sad to swim about in cold water all day. What can I do for them?"