"Now, James, don't go and plant my purse on the road, as you did your pocketbook this morning!"
"My dear, pray don't harp on that loss forever! It was not ruinous! There was only nine dollars in it."
"And if there had been nine hundred, it would have been the same thing!" said the lady.
Her husband laughed, put away his purse, stowed away his parcels, and then, having both hands at liberty, took the reins and set off for home.
As he dashed along the street a poster caught his attention. He drew up, threw the reins to Mrs. Middleton, jumped out, pulled down the poster, and returned to his seat in the sleigh.
"Here we are, my dear, all right; the pocketbook is found," he smiled, as he again took possession of the reins.
"Found?" she echoed.
"Yes, by that boy, Worth, you know, who behaved so well in that affair with the Burghes."
"Oh, yes! and he found the pocketbook?"
"Yes, and advertised it in this way, poor little fellow!"