"I'm glad you ain't my son," said one of the boys. "I shouldn't like to keep you in food and clothes."
"Well, now, I shouldn't mind having you for a father," said the giant, humorously looking down upon his questioner, a boy of twelve, and rather small of his age, with a humorous twinkle in his eye. "You wouldn't whip me very often, would you?"
Here there was a laugh at the expense of the small boy, and the group dispersed.
"Now, you've seen a large man, Jimmy," said Paul. "I'm going next to show you a small one."
They moved on to a different part of the building, and joined another crowd, this time surrounding the illustrious Tom Thumb, at that time one of the attractions of the museum.
"There's a little man, smaller than you are, Jimmy," said Paul.
"So he is," said Jimmy. "Is that Tom Thumb?"
"Yes."
"I didn't think he was so small. I'm glad I'm not so little."
"No, it might not be very comfortable, though you could make a good deal of money by it. Tom is said to be worth over a hundred thousand dollars."