134 LTistory of Gutta-Percha Willie,

 

“ Show it me, dear. Why, Willie! it’s no brass
medal, child ;—it’s a sovereign!”

“No-o-o-of Is it? O grannie!” he cried, and
went dancing about the room, as if he would actu-
ally fly with delight.

Willie had never seen a sovereign, for that part
of the country was then like Holland—you never
saw gold money there. To get it for him, his
grandmother had had to send to the bank in the
county town. ‘

After this she would often give him sixpence or
a shilling, and sometimes even a half-crown when
she asked him to do anything she thought a little
harder than usual; so that Willie had now plenty
of money with which to carry out his little plans,
When remonstrated with by her daughter for giving
him so much, his grandmother would say—

“Look how the boy spends it!—always doing
something with it! He never wastes it on sweets
~—not he!—My Willie’s above that !”

The old lady generally spoke of him as if she
were the chief if not the sole proprietor of the boy.

“T’m sure I couldn’t do better with it,” she
would add; “and that you’ll see when he comes
to bea man. He’ll be the making of you all,”

“But, mother, you can’t afford it.”

“How do you know that? I can afford it very
well, I’ve no house-rent to pay; and Iam certain
it is the very best return I can make you for your