SOBER JOHN. 59

years old, who was sitting in hislap. After
he had finished his story, the boys wanted
him to tell them what to do the afternoon of
the next day; because it was Wednesday,
and there was to be no school. John told
them they had better slide down hill, for it
was now capital sliding, he said, on the hill
side beyond the garden. The boys said
they had not sleds enough. Their cousins
were coming over to see them, and there
were only two good sleds among them all.
John then said he would think, and he took
his pencil out of his pocket, and got a small
piece of paper, and began to make calcula-
tions and drawings; but he would not let the
boys see what he was doing. At last, when
the supper was coming in, he told them he
had contrived a plan, but it would cost some
money, perhaps two dollars, though it would
last along time. ‘Now,’ said he, ‘there are
you four, and your four cousins make eight ;
that is a quarter of a dollar apiece. Now,
if you have a mind to put in a quarter of a
dollar apiece, and obey my instructions, I
will see what I can do.’

“The boys were very eager to know what
the plan could be ; but John said he couldn’t

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