“‘O no,’ said Nanny,—‘I wouldn’t throw away my red cent for anything. It’s a very pretty red cent.’
“‘How many ways are there of throwing away money?’ said her mother.
“‘O mamma—a great many! I couldn’t begin to count. You know I might throw it out of the window, mamma, or drop it in the street—or somebody might steal it,—no, then it would only be lost.’
“‘Or you might shut it up in your box and never spend it.’
“‘Why mamma!’ said Nanny opening her eyes very wide, ‘would it be thrown away then?’
“‘Certainly—you might just as well have none. It would do neither you nor any one else any good.’
“‘But I should have it to look at.’
“‘But that is not what money was made for. Your cent would be more really lost than if you threw it out of the window, for then some poor child might pick it up.’
“‘How surprised she would be!’ said Nanny with a very bright face. ‘Mamma, I think I should like to spend my money so. I could stand behind the window-curtain and watch.’