166 Tom Seven Years Old.

“That would be my present, not yours,”
answered his mamma. “ You must give it
yourself.”

“But Pve spent my last penny on that
whistle,” said Tom; “I wish I hadn’t. What
shall I do ?”

“What do poor people do when they want
money ?” said she.

“T know,” said Tom, after thinking a
minute; “they work, and then they get paid
for their work. Could I work and get paid ?”

“Certainly,” answered she. “When papa
comes in, ask him to give you some work to

do.”
| “T will,” said Tom. ‘“Whata good plan!
And the little girl can tell her father that I
mean to work for him, as he can’t for himself,
and take them the money. And they can
buy what they like with it—shoes, and stock-
ings, and hats, and dinners !”

He was in a great hurry for his papa to
come home, that he might begin at once. He
knew Richard, and the gardener, and the
coachman, and a great many other people