48 
CRAB-RACE. 
remained blew light as zephyr off shore. The sea was 
without a ripple ; and the chalk cHfFs, the two rocks in the 
bay, and the distant St. Catherine's/ were mirrored on the 
bosom of the ocean so completely, that every straggling 
sheep, browsing the tmf above the clilFs, was as distinctly 
to be seen in the reflection as the reality. I shall never 
forget the quiet beauty of the scene : — there was nothing 
wild or grand in nature ; nothing wonderful in art ; there 
was neither church, house, tree, nor shrub, nor aught to 
excite the beholder to exclamation ; — quiet sea — unro- 
mantic, un variegated, perpendicular, white cliff — mono- 
tonous downs. Nature seemed to be at rest ; man seemed 
to be a stranger ; he was no where disturbing her repose ; 
he had no where distorted her figure ; — the distant tower 
of St. Catherine's was the only visible proof that he had 
existed. 
The tide being out, we walked below the cliff, and 
amused ourselves with the vagaries of the little crabs, 
which, like the generality of mankind, appear to be look- 
ing one way while they go another ; the smooth sand was 
curiously mapped out by the infinity of their tracks. We 
established a crab-race ; and gallantly did the little urchins 
perform. A little direction was required now and then to 
keep them from bolting off the course ; but in the main 
they behaved very well, and temperately ; and then- side- 
ling gait had the air of circumspection and calculation. 
You smile, good Sir, at our childishness ; — you are wel- 
come. We laughed outright. Under the sea- wrack were 
shoals of that little jumping shrimp* with a large head, 
which is found on nearly every coast. On lifting up a 
* Talitrus Locusta.— ^- N. 
