On leaving Mrs. McQuilken the children went to Aunt Vi's room and Jimmy kept repeating joyously:—
"We've found the watch, we've found the watch!"
"Yes," said Aunt Vi; "but what a wreck it is! Your papa will have to spend a deal of money in repairing it."
"Too bad!" said Lucy, "I 'spect 'twould cost him cheaper to buy a new one."
"'Twouldn't cost him so much; that's what you mean," corrected Jimmy. "But I'm going to pay for mending it anyway."
"How can you?" asked Kyzie. "All you have is just your tin box with silver in it."
"Well, but don't I keep having presents? And can't I ask folks to stop giving me toys and books and give me money? And they'll do it every time."
"But that would be begging."
Jimmy's face fell. Yes, on the whole it did seem like begging. He had not thought of that.
"Why can't it ever snow in this country?" he exclaimed suddenly. "Then I could shovel it. That's the way boys make money 'back East'"