THE NEW SUIT OF CLOTHES. 47

time, be nearly or quite ground, I hastened back to the
mill. That evening I reached home, the happy pos-
sessor of tenpence.

“What are you going to do with it, Robert?” asked
my father. ; ; .

“Keep it for the present, sir.”

“ Well, when you spend it, spend it usefully,” said
he. “Remember that a little spent wisely is better
than a thousand raieuaed,?

I at once_put my little fortune into a small tin trunk
which was carefully kept in the upper drawer of my
mother’s bureau. The money already earned was but
asmall part of that which was necessary-for my purpose;
and I began to look about for something else to do.

Some of the boys (myself among the number) were
stretched out, at noon, during the interval of school, on
the sunny side of the school-house. This noted building

_was situated at one end of the long plain through which
ran the village street. It was truly he street, for the
village had but one. On this, at long intervals from

each other, stood the principal houses, among which