The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-02-23
Ghildrem's Column.
Borrowing a Quarter.
F. E. wADLEIGH.


F. E. wADLEIGH.
Three city boys were on their way
home from school, and as there were at
least two hours before dark (and before
supper time), they were quite ready to
stop and look at anything, from a circus
to a dog-fght.
40 boys, just look" cried Charlie
What? where?" exclaimed his com
panions. They were in front of second
hand book store; and pointing to thick
green covered volume in the window,
Charlie exclaimed, % Why, there's the
Arabian Nights, real good, not torn a
bit, marked Only twenty-five centsl'
Full of pictures, tool
oh T. said, or rather sighed, Edgar
Denny and Will Farnham.
Three faces were pressed close to the
booksellers window, three pairs of eager
eyes gloated over the treasure; for to
what ten or twelve-year-old boy is not
The Arabian Nights" treasure
Neither Edgar, Charlie nor Will had
ever read the wonderful book but one
of the iatter's cousins had done so, and
had retailed one or two of the stories to
Will, and he, in turn, had repeated them
to his two friends. And to think that
all this-rocs eggs, one-eyed caliphs,
sparkling jewels, genii, palaces-might
be obtained for twenty-five cents
81 say" remarked Edgar, doubtfully
has any fellow got quarter?"' No
fellow had; what was worse, the united
wealth of the three fellows" amounted
to just seven cents.
Perhaps, if tell papa about it, he'll
buy it for us" suggested Charlie.
"Pshaw Somebody II snap it up before
you can get to your fathers store A
bargain like that isn't to be had every
day"
"If Tom Baker. sees it, he'll buy it,
sure pop He's alwaye got money" sighed
Edgar. "If he hadn't been kept in, like
as not he'd have bought it before this"
Suddenly Wills face frightened. Put
ting his hand in his pocket, he drew out
a one dollar bill, and announced his
intention of buying the book.
"a dollar Where did you get it?"
asked Charlie, in amazement.
Tisn't mine; it's Aunt Mary's. She
gave me dollar this noon, and asked
me to pay fifty cents that she owed to
Mr.. Jenkinson, the apothecary, you
know. She will not be home until late
this evening; and in the meantime can
run up'to grandma's and get quarter
she owes me for some eggs | sold her
my little bantam's eggs Aunt Mary will
not mind, if do borrow quarter from
her for little while"
So the treasury of marvels passed into
Will Farnham' 8 possession, and the three
happy boys made immediate arrange,
ments for reading it aloud, turn and
turn about. At every street corner they
paused to look at Gust one more picture" "
and it was with violent effort that Will
tore himself away to "run up to grand
mas"
But you boys may look at it while
am gone, if you'll bring it to me before
supper" he remarked graciously, as he
left them.
Unfortunately, he got to his grand
mothers just little while after she had
left home for two days visit to. one of
her sons; so the little bantam eggs could
not be paid for then
ooh well, it cant be helped now"
Will said to himself Grandma is GER
tain to give me the quarter in day or
two, and III tell Aunt Mary about it as
soon as she comes in"
When he got home his mother told
him to put his aunt's change on her
bureau and then run to the grocer s
and get some sugar for tea. After sup
per he betook himself to his new book,
and soon was a thousand years and a
thousand miles away. He dimly heard
some one ask him about Aunt Mary's
money, and he gave dreamy answer;
and his father had to speak to him three
times before he realized that it was bed
time