“‘Oh, grandpa,’ she said, ‘I’m so glad you’ve come, because there’s a little boy been waiting here ever so long for ten dollars.’
“‘Well my dear,’ said the old gentleman, ‘ten dollars is worth waiting for.’
“‘But he’s in a great hurry to get home before dark, because he says the children have got no bread for supper till he buys it,’ said the little girl. ‘He brought a pair of boots and shoes for you, grandpa. His father’s very poor, he says.’
“‘Is he?’ said the old gentleman. ‘Then I’m afraid my boots won’t be worth much. However Nanny my dear, you may take him the money for ’em, since they’re here.’
“‘Shall I fetch you a light, grandpa?’ said the child. ‘It’s too dark to see.’
“‘No, no—not a bit of it,—I know how ten dollars feels, well enough. He shall have a gold piece—for the first time in his life, I’ll warrant. It is too dark to read bank-bills.’
“And opening the most precious end of his purse, the old gentleman’s unerring thumb and finger drew forth me, and laid me in the little girl’s open palm. The soft little hand closed upon me, and down she ran to the lower entry.
“‘There—’ she said,—‘here it is. Grandpa says he guesses that’s the first gold piece you ever had. Have you got a great many little brothers and sisters?’
“‘This ain’t gold,’ said the boy, too busy examining me to heed her last question. ‘He’s made a mistake—this is only a red cent.’