At first the children crowded round and stared. Then they sped to the Candy Shop. That was wide open, too, every glass jar filled to the brim with the most delicious candy ever seen.
‘The sign! The sign!’ shrieked the children.
There it was, shining and new.
PENNY CANDY SOLD HERE
Down to the beach ran the children, screaming as they ran. They were so excited they had forgotten the King.
The beach was covered with glittering new signs.
PLEASE PADDLE ON THE
BEACH
GOOD SAND FOR BUILDING
HERE
KINDLY DIG ON THIS BEACH
The children scarcely knew what to do first. Some ran to the Toy Shop, others to the Candy Man to taste his fine new wares. How glad they were to see their old friends, the Toy Lady and the Candy Man, once more! Some of the children settled down to dig, some of them fell to building in the sand, while many of them pulled off their shoes and stockings and happily splashed and paddled about in the cool green waves.
Every one took a holiday, fathers and mothers too. And that night, when dusk fell, they were still romping and playing and enjoying themselves on the beach.