mother," replied William, "and
hard work will never hurt any one, especially when he dines off
turtle-soup. Why, Tommy, what's the matter with you?"

"Tommy and I are at variance," replied Mrs Seagrave. "I had my thimble
this morning, and had commenced my sewing, when I was called out by
Juno, and Caroline went with me, and Tommy was left in the house. When
I came back I found him outside, and on going back to my work, there was
no thimble to be found; I asked him if he had touched it, and his answer
was that he would look for it. He did look, and said he could not find
it; I have asked him several times if he took it away, and his only
answer is that he will find it by and by."

"Tommy, did you take the thimble?" said Mr Seagrave, gravely.

"I'll find it by and by, papa."

"That's not an answer. Did you take the thimble?"

"I'll find it by and by, papa," said Tommy, whimpering.

"That's all the answer he will give me," said Mrs Seagrave.

"Well, then, he shall have no dinner till the thimble makes its
appearance," replied Mr Seagrave.

Master Tommy began to cry at this intelligence. Juno appeared with the
turtle-soup; and Tommy cried louder when they had said grace and
commenced their dinner. They were all very hungry, and William sent his
plate for another portion, which he had not commenced long before he put
his finger in his mouth and pulled out something.

"Why, mother, here's the thimble in my soup," cried William.

"No wonder he said he would find it by and by," said Ready, smiling; "he
meant to have fished it up, I suppose, from what was left of the soup
after dinner. Well, Mrs Seagrave, I don't mean to say that Tommy is a
good boy, but still, although he would not tell where the thimble was,
he has not told a falsehood about it."

"No, he has not," replied William. "I think, now that the thimble is
found, if he begs pardon, papa will forgive him."

"Tommy, come here," said Mr Seagrave. "Tell me why you put that
thimble into the soup?"

"I wanted to taste the soup. I wanted to fill the thimble; the soup
burnt my fingers, and I let the thimble drop in."

"Well, a thimbleful wasn't much, at all events," observed Ready. "And
why didn't you tell your mamma where the thimble was?"

"I was afraid mamma throw all the soup away, and then I get none for
dinner."

"Oh! that was it, was it? Well, sir, I said you should have no dinner
till the thimble was found, so, as it is found, you may