We have a golden crab. We feed him, and he fills our plate with gold. He fulfills all our wishes, and we are resolved to fulfill his.

Needless to say, he is very intelligent. There is so much more to him than meets the eye. He has asked me to go to the king and request the hand of his daughter in marriage. It sounds absurd, but I’ll do it. I’ll do anything for our beloved crab, for my gratitude knows no bounds!

The Crab Fisherman’s Wife, in The Golden Crab, Yellow Fairy Book. Painting by Peter Ancher.