“Well,” said Lucy, “and I mean to take out my money-purse, and count my money, and see if it is all safe.”
Lucy had several pieces of money which her father had given her to buy something with, in the town. She was going to buy a book, and any thing besides, which Miss Anne might approve. So she poured the money out upon her lap, and began to count it.
“What would you buy with this money, Miss Anne?” said Lucy, after she had counted it, and found it all safe.
“Why, I can hardly say, till I see what they have got to sell. But I can tell you what I think I would not buy.”
“Well,” said Lucy, “what?”
“Why, I think I would not buy any very perishable property.”
“What do you mean by perishable property?”
“Property that is soon consumed or destroyed. Sugar-plums are very perishable property indeed; for you eat them, and they are gone.”
“But a doll isn’t perishable, is it?” said Lucy.
“No, not so perishable as sugar-plums or candy. But you have got a doll.”