7 ° BRAGGADOCIO.

Tom.—That is true, Bessie, but I have got
something else to do besides draw, to amuse
myself and ornament your parlor. Here isa
nice place to sit, under this tree; we will here
talk over what I intend to do. But first, let
me spread down my handkerchief on the
ground.

Tom took out his clean cotton pocket-hand-
kerchief, and carefully spread it out for Bessie.
_ He then threw himself beside her, and con-
tinued : |

“ Father, you know, will get to be old one
of these days, and he hasn’t anything laid up
for old age, or if he should get sick. We
ought to do a great deal for him when he is so
kind to us.”

“So we ought; what can we do?” and
Bessie’s dark eyes filled with tears at the
thought of sickness and old age, which might
come to her kind father. |

Tom.—Oh, I can do a great deal. I am
going to learn to be a chemist.

Bessie—A chemist! What is that?”

Tom.—Father has often said if he only
knew how to mix dye stuffs, he could get