At this they began to call out, "Give it to Jacob," "Give it to Theodore," &c.
"Well," I said, "you have all been bad alike, according to your own confessions. I will draw lots for you, on condition that the boy who gets the book shall lend it cheerfully to the rest in turn to read, and the rest of the boys must feel willing and happy to have the winner keep it. Will you try to do this?"
They eagerly promised. So I cut ten little squares of paper, while they gathered round me and looked on with the greatest interest, and on each bit of paper I put a boy's name.
"Now, boys, you will all have a chance. See—I will roll up each bit, and tumble them all together in this saucer; and then who shall take them out one by one?"
"All of us," they cried.
"No, that won't do. Let Joseph, as he is the smallest boy; and mind, the last one wins."
"Yes, ma'am," they said; and now it was funny to see the intense importance with which little Joseph put in his thumb and finger among the papers. He took one, dropped it, and took another and handed it to me.
You could have heard a pin drop while I unfolded it; and when I read "Joseph," the little fellow's face grew so long that I felt very sorry, and wished I had bought ten books.
"Never mind, my little fellow, you will read it, you know," I said; "and you will be glad for the boy who gets it—won't you?"