“Grandpa, I have decided that I would like to open a circulating library with my money. Do you think I have enough?”
Evidently grandpa was not a little surprised, as well as amused, for he seemed for a moment to be struggling between a desire to both whistle and laugh, although he actually did neither; but, giving Janet a quizzical look over his spectacles he said:
“Oho! and so you propose to devote your means to charitable purposes, do you?”
“No, I don’t mean to do anything of the kind,” answered Janet; “I propose to have pay for lending my books.”
Then grandpa did laugh and whistle too. But Janet did not allow herself to be disturbed, well knowing that she was sure of his sympathy and attention when he should have his laugh out; and directly, as she expected, he became quite grave, and asked her what had put such an idea into her head.
Then, as she was confident he would, he listened most kindly while she told him all that had been in her mind from the moment of receiving her gift, and of how the little girl’s remark had seemed to indicate a way by which she could do not only that which she so much desired, but also to gratify a wish she had herself often felt—a wish for more fresh reading matter than it had been at all times convenient to procure. For she thought, could she purchase a small number of volumes and lend them in the manner suggested, that perhaps these might yield a sufficient return to enable her to get such others as might from time to time be desired.
A look of pleased interest gradually stole over grandpa’s face as Janet told her plan, and when she had finished he took his spectacles in his hand, and while balancing them on his forefinger, remarked:
“Why, Janet, you bid fair to become a capital business woman! This is not a bad project for a fifteen-year-old head!”
“But what do you think, grandpa?—can I make it work?” queried Janet impatiently, too intent upon her purpose to care for compliments.
Grandpa deliberated a few moments and then replied: