Page:Stories told to a child.djvu/202

 closer and peeped into the purse. There were as many as six or eight sovereigns in it. I thought what a rich man my grandfather was, and when he took out a small coin and laid it on my palm, I could scarcely believe it was for me.

'Do you know what that is, child?'

'A half-sovereign, grandpapa.'

'Well, do you think you could spend it?'

'O, yes, grandpapa.'

O, yes!" and she opens her eyes! Ah, child, child! that money was worth ten shillings when it was in my purse, and I wouldn't give sixpence for anything it will buy, now it has once touched your little fingers.'

'Did you give it me to spend exactly as I like, grandpapa?'

'To be sure, child—there, take it—it's worth nothing to you, my dear.'

'Nothing to me! The half-sovereign worth nothing to me! why, grandpapa?'

'Nothing worth mentioning; you have no real wants; you have clothes, food, and shelter, without this half-sovereign.'

'O, yes; but, grandpapa, I think it must be worth ten times as much to me as to you; I have only this one, and you have quantities; I shouldn't wonder if you have thirty or forty half-sovereigns, and a great many shillings and half-crowns besides, to spend every year.'

'I shouldn't wonder!'

'And I have only one. I can't think, grandpapa, what you do with all your money; if I had it I would buy so many delightful things with it.'

Rh