THE CRABS' TEA-PARTY. 



I. 



A JOLLY old Crab said, one day, to his wife, 

 " My dear, I 'm afraid I am wasting my life ; 

 For, you see, I keep getting, 



Without ever giving, 

 And a miserly life 



Is not worth the living. 



So, I pray you, advise me how I should behave ; 

 For I wish to impart, as well as to save." 



II. 



" Mr. Crab," said his wife, as she took a shy look, 

 " I suspect you 've been reading some new-fangled book 

 For 't is not the old custom, 



In our part of the sea, 

 For a Crab to care much 



Who his neighbors may be. 



If they 're poor, he cares not, neither cares if they 're wealthy, 

 Unless he feels pleased in a way men call stealthy. 



146 



