THE CRAB. 
I HAVE just been to the pier to have a long chat 
with old Ross. The pier, you know, is that long bit 
of land that runs out into the sea. Old Ross and 
his wife live in a hut by the sea side ; this hut is 
on a rock very near the sea, and he goes out in his 
boat to get fish for sale. I went to day to see him 
mend his boat ; a bit of wood had come out, so 
that the boat was not safe, and when he had put a 
new bit in and made it fast, he put some tar on it, 
that he had made hot in an iron pot over a fire. I 
have also seen him mend his nets ; he dips his nets 
in the tar as well as puts it over his boat, and a 
