=]

THE -NEW TOP.

Harry, Tom, and Dick were cousins, and went to the
same school. They were all three nearly of the same age,
and so were great friends and generally about together.
To-day they had a half-holiday, as one of the top boys
in the school had- passed some examination very well, and
the head master had in consequence given the school per-
mission to leave early. It happened to be Tom’s birthday,
and his father had given him a shilling to get what he
liked with it; so directly school was over the three boys .

began to puzzle how best to spend this money. Tom at

"last said, ‘1. think, Dick, that as you and Harry both have

tops, and mine is broken, that I had better get a new one,
and then we can have a game of peg-top.” Dick’ and
Harry ,both thought this was a good idea, and so off the.
boys went to the village shop, where, after turning over
a number of tops, they at last decided on the best one to
have. They did not go far from the shop before they
tried the new purchase, and Harry and Dick said that Tom
was indeed a lucky fellow to have such a grand:new top, |

and hoped they might have the same luck on their birthdays.