Page:Tales in Political Economy by Millicent Garrett Fawcett.djvu/91

 struck. Everyone made a similar arrangement; for it was thought that when the ship returned and all those who had sent goods received a sum of money, they would be able to buy of their neighbours anything they wished for, and that this would be much better than spending the price of the goods in San Francisco. "We can make things for ourselves," they said; "so what's the good of buying them of the Yankees?"

So the Carrier Pigeon set sail, laden with agricultural produce and manufactured articles, that, speaking roughly, had cost every man, woman, and child on Isle Pleasant a month's labour. Everyone had sent something, and everyone anxiously waited for the return of the ship that would bring with it so much extra wealth and enjoyment (it was thought) to the whole island. If children asked their parents for a treat, the answer was, "Wait till the ship comes home." The Collinses wanted to add another room to their house, but they said they would wait till the ship came home, as they would then have money to buy the best materials and hire the most