94 BRAGGADOCIO.

Mixon soon came down stairs, looking all
the better for the soaking rain—at least two
shades lighter in complexion, and as clean as
a new pin. When they had done supper,
Mixon said to Tom,

“Youre a pretty smart, likely boy, Tom,
and do m¥ work quite to my notion. Now, I
thought as how I could help you in yourn, so I
bought them things for you to-day.”

He pulled out from the long pocket of his
blue frock, a parcel, tied up in thick brown
paper. Tom took out his knife to cut the cord
tied about the parcel.

‘“‘ No! no!” exclaimed Bessie ; “ let me untie
the knots. Don’t you remember the story
mother used to tell us about ‘ Waste not, want
not?”

Bessie untied the knots, took off the wet
paper from the outside, and found the under-
wrapper quite dry. She handed the parcel
back to Tom, and he took off the brown paper.

“A plane and an auger! Oh, delightful!
Just what I wanted. Fathér, I am so much
obliged to you. Now, I only want some
nails.”