Harper's Young People, July 13, 1880 An Illustrated Weekly

George and Bert Fielden, their sister Sarah, and their widowed mother struggle to keep the household afloat after their father's death. When the boys hear that soft‑shell crabs fetch a good price at market, they convince their mother to let them buy a second‑hand boat and a net from the kindly Captain Sam. Eager and earnest, they set out on the river, learning how to read the tide, dress for the water, and coax the little “lobsters” into their net while the village hums with summer visitors.

As the boys grow more confident, they attract a handful of regular customers and earn Captain Sam’s respect as both mentor and advocate. However, rival youths begin to crowd the river, scaring the crabs away and threatening the Fieldens’ modest trade. With Sam’s seasoned advice, the brothers contemplate a new spot across the water, a move that could turn their modest venture into a steadier source of income while keeping the family’s hopes alive.