she dug a hole
in the sand and thrusting in both her feet, covered them up. All of a
sudden a tremendous crab crawled up and before she could run away,
fastened his great claw in her sleeve.

"Oh I am king of the blue sea crabs,
And king of the sandy shore,
And I can fight as well as bite
With my big tre-men-dous claw.
Oh, I can pinch as well as a clam,
I'm king of all pinchers, you bet I am."

Now little Mary Louise was a brave girl, and unclasping her breastpin,
she stuck the point right in the wrist of the Crab King's claw, after
which he began to sing a different kind of song, and the tears came out
of his eyes, and pretty soon he begged to be let alone.

"I'll give you the most beautiful pearl in all the world," he said, but
Mary Louise only laughed and pointed to her torn sleeve:

"That won't mend my sleeve, King Crab. What right had you to tear it?"

"Oh, please take the pin out of my elbow," begged the tearful Crab
King, so frightened that he couldn't tell whether it was his wrist or
his elbow that Mary Louise was pricking. "I'll give you two pearls.
Oh, please pull out your pin."

As soon as she had put away her breastpin, the Crab King started to dig
in the sand and pretty soon he brought up two lovely pearls.

"But what am I to do with my torn sleeve?" asked Mary Louise, for she
was still angry with that disagreeable old crab.

Without answering, the King of the Crabs crawled off into the tall sea
grass and in a few minutes came back with a little package done up in
sea weed, and after he had unwrapped it, what do you suppose Mary
Louise saw? Why, a beautiful pale sea green coat made of sea silk. It
was very beautiful and looked just like the shimmery green of the waves.

"Here is a coat of the great Crab King,
It's finer than silk or anything,
For none but a merman has ever worn
A coat so beautifully shimmery shorn,"

cried the King Crab, handing it to Mary Louise. Then he crawled away,
for he wised to have the doctor see his wounded elbow, I imagine.

Candy City

Just then a little bird began to sing:

"In the valley, green and neat,
I see the print of little feet,
And way, way yonder in the glen
I see a host of little men."

"Dear me!" sighed Mary Louise. "I am too tired to walk any further."

"Jump on my back!" cried a happy voice, and up trotted a little pony
named Dapple Gray.

"Oh, how nice," laughed Mary Louise, and climbing up on the