of the boy.

"We have agreed, to begin with, that the population of Philadelphia is
one hundred and of New York one hundred and fifty. Now, how many people
will have to be subtracted from New York's population to make it the
same as Philadelphia?"

"Feefty,--vot I says."

"And fifty is what part of one hundred and fifty,--that is, what part of
the population of New York?"

"It vos one thirds."

"And one third of anything is thirty-three and one third per cent. of
it, which is the correct answer to the problem."

Mr. Ribsam held his pipe suspended in one hand while he stared with open
mouth into the smiling face of his son, as though he did not quite grasp
his reasoning.

"Vot you don't laughs at?" he said, turning sharply toward his wife, who
had resumed her knitting and was dropping many a stitch because of the
mirth, which shook her as vigorously as it stirred her husband a few
minutes before.

"I laughs ven some folks dinks dey ain't shmarter don dey vosn't all te
vile, don't it?"

And stopping her knitting she threw back her head and laughed