6o 



shells like these," he said. " They are none of 

 them very pretty." 



" This one ' is," said the little girl. She had 

 picked the very one the thievish little crab had 

 stolen. " But it has something in it, too." 



Her father took it from her. " Why, this is 

 rather a rare shell," he said. " I've never seen one 

 like it on this beach before. We must add this to 

 our collection." 



" But it has something in it, papa." 



" We'll manage to get that out somehow. Let 

 us see if we can find any more like it." 



He began to look more carefully. Presently he 

 came upon the old pipe with the crab curled up in- 

 side it. " Come look here, little daughter," he said. 

 " Here's a curious thing. I suppose this poor little 

 crab couldn't find a shell, so it had to take shelter 

 in this heavy, ugly pipe. Let us look about and 

 find a better house for it." 



" But would it go into it if it had it ?" asked the 

 child. 



" Yes, indeed, and be glad of it." 



The Professor began to search about the beach 

 for a better house for the little crab. 



" I know," said the child. " I'll get one of those 



