Lom gives his Presen ts. 9 5

“ “Can you lay ?” Archie asked, climbing
on the stool.

“Of course,” said Tom. “Everyone can
play. You've only to put down your hands,
and the noise comes up at once from out of
— its inside.” /

“Why,” cried Archie, “that’s only strum-
ming! Ican play. I’ve learned ‘Pop goes
the Weasel’ and ‘ The Last Rose of Summer.’
Listen.” ,

Tom stood still and listened. Archie
watched his fingers carefully. They moved
slowly among the notes, and did not always
seem to know where to go.

“Why don’t you let your fingers go where
they want?” said Tom at last. “It’s much
easier, and the noise comes up just the
same.”

“How stupid you are!” cried Archie.
“That would be playing wrong notes, of
course—all out of tune.”

Tom did not like to be called stupid. He
liked, instead, to be called very clever indeed.

“Well,” he said:: “show me. Which are
G