Book-bot.com - read famous books online for free

Shavings by Joseph Crosby Lincoln
page 68 of 476 (14%)
small patron. She gravely produced a miniature velvet purse with
the remnants of some bead fringe hanging to its lower edge and laid
a dime and four pennies on the top of a packing case between them.
It was growing dark in the shop and Jed lighted one of the bracket
lamps. Returning, he found the coins laid in a row and Miss
Armstrong regarding them somewhat soberly.

"There isn't any MORE than fourteen, is there?" she asked. "I
mean--I mean fourteen cents takes all of it, doesn't it?"

Jed looked at her face. His eye twinkled.

"Well, suppose it didn't?" he asked. "What then?"

She hesitated. "Why," she stammered, "if--if there was ONE left
over I--maybe I could buy something tomorrow at the candy store.
Not to-day, 'cause I told Mamma I wouldn't to-day 'cause I was sick
at my stomach yesterday--but to-morrow I could."

Mr. Winslow carefully counted the coins and then, spreading them
out on his big palm, showed them to her.

"There!" he said. "Now you've given me the fourteen cents. I've
got 'em, haven't I?"

Miss Barbara solemnly nodded.

"Yes," continued Jed. "Now I'll put 'em back in your wallet again.
There they are, shut up in the wallet. Now you put the wallet in
your pocket. Now take your fish bundle under your arm. There! now
DigitalOcean Referral Badge