Sally. O yes, mamma, very pleasant; you cannot think how many fine things I have seen. And then it is so charming to ride in a coach!
Mrs. M. I suppose Miss Harriet showed you all her playthings?
Sally. O yes, such fine large dolls, so smartly dressed as I never saw in my life before. Then she has a baby-house, and all sorts of furniture in it; and a grotto all made of shells, and shining stones. And then she showed me all her fine clothes for the next ball; there’s a white slip all full of spangles, and pink ribands; you can’t think how beautiful it looks!
Mrs. M. And what did you admire most of all these fine things?
Sally. I don’t know—I admired them all; and I think I liked riding in the coach better than all the rest. Why don’t we keep a coach; and why have I not such fine clothes and playthings as Miss Harriet?
Mrs. M. Because we cannot afford it, my dear. Your papa is not so rich by a great deal, as Sir Thomas; and if we were to lay out our money upon such things, we should not be able to procure food and raiment and other necessaries for you all.
Sally. But why is not papa as rich as Sir Thomas?
Mrs. M. Sir Thomas had a large estate left him by his father; but your papa has little but what he gains by his own industry.
Sally. But why should not papa be as rich as anybody else? I am sure he deserves it as well.
Mrs. M. Do you not think that there are a great many people poorer than he, that are also very deserving?