“No,” said he, “I could not afford it for less than fifteen. It cost me more than ten.”
The little girl laid the slate down, and looked disappointed and sad. Rollo's mother came up to her, took up the slate, and said,
“I should think you had better give him fifteen cents. It is a very good slate. It is worth as much as that, certainly.”
“Yes, madam, so I tell her,” said the shopman.
“But I have not got but ten cents,” said the little girl.
[pg 189]“Have not you?” said Rollo's mother. She stood still thinking a moment, and then she asked the little girl what her name was.
She said it was Maria.
She asked her what she wanted the slate for; and Maria said it was to do sums on, at school. She wanted to study arithmetic, and could not do so without a slate.
Jonas then came forward, and said that he should like to give her five cents of Georgie's money, and that, with the ten she had, would be enough. He said that Georgie had given him authority to do what he thought best with his money, and he knew, if Georgie was here, he would wish to help the little girl.
Rollo and James were both sorry they had not thought of it themselves; and, as soon as Jonas mentioned it, they wanted to give some of their money to the girl; but Jonas said he knew that Georgie would prefer to do it. At last, however, it was agreed that Rollo and James should furnish one cent each, and Georgie the rest. This was all agreed upon after a low [pg 190]conversation by themselves in a corner of the store; and then Jonas came forward, and told the shopman that they were going to pay the additional five cents, and that he might let the girl have the slate. So Jonas paid the money, and it was agreed that Rollo and James should pay him back their share, when they got their money changed. The boys were very much pleased to see the little girl go away so happy with her slate in her hand. It was neatly done up in paper, with two pencils which the shopman gave her, done up inside.