"Another one."

"What, two dolls?"

"Yes."

"Well, what else?"

"Another one, too."

"Three dolls! goodness! but tell me what you would like beside the
three dolls?"

"Some more dolls," persisted Molly, with her finger in her mouth.

"Whew! What would you like, Johnny?" inquired Ishmael, smiling on
the little boy.

"I'd like a hatchet all of my own. I want one the worst kind of a
way," said Johnny solemnly.

"Shall I bring him a little box of dwarf carpenter tools, Uncle
Reuben?" inquired Ishmael doubtfully.

"Just as you please, Ishmael. He can't do much damage with them
inside, because Hannah is always here to watch him; and he may hack
and saw as much as he likes outside," said Reuben.

These points being settled, and the children not only soothed, but
delighted, Ishmael put them off his knees and arose to depart.