e one or other of those who had spoken. Norton grew impatient.

"That'll do," he said; "now for the Recorder. It's time the Judge
finished up. The best part of the play comes after."

"What's that?" said somebody; "what comes after? I thought this was the
whole."

"You wouldn't catch me playing 'Capital and Interest' very often, if it
was," said Norton. "No; the best business man, or the one who has the
best business, is to appoint forfeits to all the rest; and if he knows
how to do it, I tell you! that's fun."

"But how are we to decide who has the best business?"

"Can't! The Judge does that. Go ahead, David. What's _your_ business?"

"I wish it was peddling old shoes!" said Judy.

"Why?" several asked.

"It won't be anything as respectable. We've taken to turning old coats
at our house."

"Go ahead, Davy!" cried Norton.

But David was deliberate about it. He finished his writing, and looked
up.

"I think my capital is _myself_," he said with a smile. "I mean to make
the most of _myself_, in every way I can think of; as well as of my
money, and whatever else I have got."

"Don't sound so bad," said Elisha looking at Judy.

"Well Davy," said Norton; "what are you going to do with yourself,
after you have made the most you can of it?"

"I am the servant of the King Messiah," said David with a smile again;
"myself and all I have belong to him, and I want to make the most of
them for Jesus and his work and his Kingdom. They are the talents He
has given me to work with. And when the King comes to take account of
me, I want to be able to say, 'Lord, thy pound hath gained five
pounds.'"

The little people were silent. David spoke so simply and in so
business-like fashion, there was no game to be made of his words; and
nothing was said, till Norton remarked he did not know what he was
going to do; he could not remember one half that had been said for him
to pass judgment upon.

"I've got it all here," said David. "Take your seat, and begin; I'll
read you two, and you choose the best in your judgment of those; then
take another and compare with that, and so on."

"Well," said Norton. "Get along, David. It s a pesky business, this
being judge, I can tell you."

"Silence in the court!" said David. "Esther Francis; capital, the most
beautiful diamonds in New York; interest, she outshines everybody."

"Next"--said Norton.

"I didn't say that, did I?" asked Esther.

"Of course you said that; he's got it