"Well, sir," said Nathan, "only I wish you would tell me a little story, as you did last evening. Have not I been still?"
His father had noticed, that he had been very still and attentive, but did not think before, that it was in expectation of being rewarded with a story.
"Well," said his father, "I will tell you a story, or give you a little advice. How should you like a little advice?"
"Well, father, a little advice; just which you please."
"I advise you, then,—let me see,—what shall I advise you?—No, on the whole, I will tell you a story. Once there was a man, and he was a philosopher. He understood all that I have been explaining to you about the air being light when it was hot. So he got some very thin paper, and made a large paper bag. He cut the paper very curiously, and pasted it together at the edges in such a way, that the bag, when it was done, was round, like a ball; and it had a round opening at the bottom of it. In fact, it was a large paper ball."
"How large was it?" said Nathan.
"It was so large, that, when it was swelled out full, it would have been higher than your head."
"O, what a large ball!" said Nathan. "But what was it for?"
"Why, the man thought, as hot air is lighter than cool air, and floats up, that perhaps, if he could fill his paper ball with hot air, it would go up too."
"And did it?" said Nathan.