Jonas did not reply to this, but only began to laugh heartily, and to walk on. Nathan turned back into the shed, saying, he did not see what Jonas was laughing at.
The boys wanted very much to have the question about the balloon settled; and, after some further conversation on the subject, they concluded to go in and ask their mother. So they all three went in. Rollo proposed this plan, and he led the way into the house. He found his mother sitting in the parlor at her work.
"Well, boys," said she, "have you got tired of your play?"
"No, mother," said Rollo, "but we want to know about balloons: how big are they?"
"O, some of them," said she, "are very large."
"Ain't they as big as this house?" said James.
"Yes, I believe they have been made as big," said she.
"But, mother," said Nathan, "father told me, his very self, that they were no higher than my head."
"O no," said his mother; "he said that a man made one which was about as high as your head; but that was only a little one, for experiment. When they make large ones, for use, they are as high as this house."
"For use, mother? what use?" said Nathan.