e."

No, it was not children that I heard quarrelling; it was only two little
crabs. Children never speak so crossly to each other; but those two
little crabs scolded and bit down there in the water until-- But I am
getting ahead of my story. I'll tell you how it was.

I had been out fishing, and as the sun became too hot, I rowed my boat
to the shore under the shade of the trees, and sat thinking. I looked
down into the water, and saw a little crab holding a clam shell under
his mouth with his claw, and eating as fast as he could, at the same
time turning his queer, bulging eyes in all directions to see that he
would not be disturbed. But soon another crab came up, and tried to
snatch away the clam shell. Then ensued the conversation which I have
already quoted. I dropped a piece of clam into the water, and the
new-comer seized it. He scuttled away under a piece of sea-weed, and
cried out in triumph:

"Aha! greedy, you didn't get it, and it is much better than your old
shell. Don't you wish you had it?"

"I'll change with you," said the other. "Just see this blue on the edge
of my shell. Ain't it lovely?"

"Change! I guess not. Who cares for the blue? You can't eat the blue."

"Of course you can't eat it, but it is pretty. However, there is no use
in talking to you about it; you have no love for the beautiful," said
the other, tauntingly.

"You needn't put on so many airs. I'm bigger than you are, anyway,"
snarled the first.

"You won't be long, for I'm growing every day."

"Children! children! what is the matter?" asked the old mamma crab, who
just appeared on the scene.

"Mamma, he tried to get my din--"

"I didn't; I only wanted--"

"He's a mean, horrid old thing, and I don't--"

"Why, children," interrupted the old crab, "I am ashamed of you. What is
the matter?"

"He tried to take away my dinner," said one.

"He said I wasn't growing big," said the other.

"That did not stop your growth, did it?" said mamma.

"No--o," drawled the little one.

"And now," she continued, "I want you to behave yourselves. Stop such
silly quarrelling. You act so much like boys and girls that I am ashamed
of you."

"Say, mamma, my clothes are getting too tight for me, and I've bursted a
seam in the back of my coat," said one of the youngsters, after a short
pause.

"That is all right," answered mamma, assuringly; "you are only going to
'shed.'"

"Am I going to be all soft and helpless, like papa was, and the