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swam away to her island of coral and pearl。
〃Heigh ho；〃 sighed little Mary Louise； 〃here I am by the sad sea waves
with nobody to talk to；〃 and as she had nothing to do； 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。
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The Iceberg Express
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。
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The Iceberg Express
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 saddle；
rode off on this pretty little pony； and pretty soon； not so very far； they
came to the place where the little men were at work。 And what do you
suppose they were doing。 Why； you'd never guess if I gave you until the
4th of July。
They were making maple sugar out of the sap from the maple trees。
First they boiled the sap in great big pots and then put it away to cool in
queer little dishes of various shapes； and when the sugar hardened it was
in the forms of funny little fish； queer little houses； strange animals； and；
goodness knows； what not。
〃Oh； we are the Sugar Candy Men； And we work all day in the
snow To make the maple sugar cakes To sell in the town below；〃
sang one little man who wore a red peaked hat and long turned…up
pointed shoes。
But when little Mary Louise rode up； they all stopped their work and
looked at her； and the little man with the long turned up pointed shoes
pulled off his red peaked cap and asked：
〃What brings you here； Mary Louise？ Are you fond of maple sugar
candy？〃
〃I know lots of little boys and girls who are；〃 answered Mary Louise
with a smile。
〃Well； hold open your pockets；〃 said the little man； and he stood up on
a stump alongside Dapple Gray and filled her pockets to overflowing。
Wasn't that nice of him？
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The Iceberg Express
〃You're very generous；〃 said Mary Louise。 〃What can I do for you？〃
〃Go to yonder town and tell the dear old lady who keeps the 'Goody
Sweet Tooth…Shop' that we will bring her candy tomorrow morning just
as
〃The little red rooster From his home on the hill Sounds his merry
cock…a…doo Like a whistle shrill。〃
〃All right；〃 answered Mary Louise； and off she went to the little town
down in the valley。
Well； by and by； after a while； and many a mile； and a song and a smile；
for Mary Louise felt very happy with all those nice candies in her pocket；
she came to a bridge over a river； on the other side of which nestled a little
town among the trees。
Now there was a toll keeper； a funny little old lady with a crutch under
her arm； at the entrance to the bridge。
〃Give me a penny； Mary Louise； For that is the toll you must pay；
If you would cross over the river to Dover； Dover； just over the way。〃
Sang the little old lady toll keeper。
〃Here is the penny；〃 laughed Mary Louise； leaning down from Dapple
Gray and dropping it into the old lady's apron； which she help up in both
hands。
〃Pass on； little girl；〃 she said； opening the gate； and in a few minutes
Dapple Gray was clattering over the bridge。 And pretty soon he drew up
before the Goody Sweet Tooth Shop。
〃I bring you good news from the little men of the glen；〃 cried Mary
Louise to the little old woman who just then looked out of the door。
〃What is the news； dearie？〃 she asked； shading her eyes with her
withered hand。
〃Tomorrow morning； just at dawn； When the little red rooster blows
on his horn； The maple sugar candy hearts； Cute little cupids and
candy darts； In a great big box will be laid at your door to give to the
children who come to your store。〃
said little Mary Louise。 And how she ever could have spoken in
poetry is more th