smile. 'I
am only in search of some young people who, I dare say, have been better
customers than I. Ah, here they are,' he continued, as the two boys of
whom I had taken so much notice ran up to him from different ends of the
room.

'Well, boys,' said he, 'what have you bought? Must we hire a wagon to
carry your property home?'

'Not quite,' answered Edward. 'I have bought a wagon-load of amusement,
but I can carry it home well enough myself; I have spent all my money in
this box of tools.'

'A very sensible and useful purchase,' said the gentleman; 'they will
give you plenty of pleasant employment. The only objection is, that they
are likely to be lost or broken at school.'

'I do not mean to take them to school, papa. I shall use them in the
holidays, and leave them with Willy when I go back to school; that was
one reason why I bought them. Willy could do a good deal of
carpentering on his sofa.'

[Illustration: Page 25.]

'True, my boy, and a kind thought. They will be a great amusement to
poor Willy, and he will take good care of them for you.'

'Now, Geoffrey, how have you invested your capital? I hope you have
found a strong spade. It is fine weather for gardening.'

'No, I haven't,' stammered Geoffrey.

'Well, what have you bought?'

'I don't know,' said Geoffrey.

'Do you mean that you have not spent your money yet? Make haste, then,
for I can only allow you five minutes more. I expected to find you ready
to go home. Be brisk; there is every thing on that stall that the heart
of boy can wish,' said the gentleman, pointing to my abode.

But Geoffrey did not move. 'I don't want any thing,' said he at last.

'What a fortunate boy!' said the gentleman; but he presently added,
'Have you lost your money?'

'No.'

'Show it to me.'

Geoffrey slowly produced his sixpence, almost hidden in the palm of his
hand.

'Where is the rest?' asked the gentleman. 'Have you spent it?'

'Yes.'

'And nothing to show for it? Nothing?'--and the gentleman looked at the
boy more narrowly. 'Nothing,' said he again, 'except a few crumbs of
pie-crust on your waistcoat? Oh, Geoffrey!'

There was a short silence, and the boy colored a good deal; at last he
said, 'It was my own money.'

'You will wish it was your own again before long, I dare say,' said the
gentleman. 'However, we must hope you will be wiser in time. Come home
now to dinner.'

'I don't want any dinner,' said Geoffrey.

'Probably not, but Edwar