Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-01-07
BUYING MONEY.

little Jacks scheme for Making Christ
mas for the Poor.
Jack Russell was five years old and
ten days over; therefore it is plain that
he was now big boy. He had left off
kits, and his trousers had as many but
tons as it is possible for trousers to
have, and his boots had noble squeak
in them. What would you have more?
This being the case, of course Jack
could go down town with his mamma
when she went shopping, thing that
| little boys can not do as a rule.
One day in Christmas week, when all
the shops were fuH of pretty things,
Jack and his mamma found themselves
in the gay street, with crowds of peo-
pie hurrying to and fro, all carrying
parcels of every imaginable shape.
The air was crisp and tingling, the
sleigh-bells made merry din, and
everybody looked cheerful and smiling,
as if they knew that Christmas was
only five days off.
Almost everybody, for as Jack stopped
to look in at shop window, he saw some
one who did not look cheerful. 1t was
poor woman, very thinly and miser-
ably clad, and holding little boy by
the hand.
The boy was little, because he wore
petticoats (oh, such poor, ragged petit
coatsD, but he was taller than Jack.
He was looking longingly at the toys
in the window.
80, motherr' he cried, ''see that little
horse Oh. wish had a little horser'
"My dear" said the poor woman,
signing, ''if can give you an apple to
eat with your bread on Christmas day,
you must be thankful, for | can do no
more. Poor people can't have pretty
things like those"
Come, Jaclxr' said Mrs. Russell,
drawing him on hastily. what are
you stopping for?"
Mamma" asked Jack, trudging
along stoutly, but looking grave and
perplexed, ''why can't poor people have
nice things?"
''Why2 Oh, said Mrs. Russell, who
had not noticed the poor woman and
her boy, "because they have no money
to buy them Pretty things cost money,
you know"
Jack thought this over little in his
own way; then, but. mamma" he
said, why don't they buy some money
at the money-shop?"
Mrs. Russell only laughed at this, and
patted Jacks head and called him
little goose" and then they went in
to large shop, and bought a beautiful
wax doll for Sissy.
But Jacks mind was all at work, and
while they were waiting for the flaxen-
haired beauty to be wrapped in white
tissue paper and put in box, he pur-
sued his inquiries
"Where do you get your money
mamma, dear?"
"Why, your dear papa gives me my
money, Jacly. boy. Didn't you see
him give me all those nice crisp bills
this morning."
And where does dear papa get lie
so child, how you do ask questionsl
He gets it at the bank"
'Then is the bank the money-shop,
Mrs. Russell laughed absent-mind-
edly, for, in truth, her thoughts were
on other things, and she was only half
listening to the child, which was a
pity. Eyes, dear" she said. 1T is
the only money-shop l know Of Now
you must not ask me any more ques-
tons. Jack. You distract me.''
But Jack had no more questions to
ask
The next day as the cashier at the
national bank was busily adding up an
endless column of figures, he was star
tied by hearing a voice which appar-
emily came from nowhere.
No face appeared at the little window
in the gilded grating, and yet sweet,
silvery voice was certainly saying. with
great distinctness: IF you please, /
should like to buy some money!
He looked through the window and
saw small boy, carrying bundle al
most as big as himself
What can | do for you, nv little
nan?" asked the cashier. kindly.
II should like to buy some money,
please. repeated Jack, very politely.
''Oh, indeedr' said the cashier. with a
Wrinkle in his eye "And how much
money would you like, sirf-'
About thousand dollars, l fink"
aid Jack, promptly. Ut does some
lines happen that big boys can not pro-
lounce ''th" distinctly, but they are
zone the less big for that
"A thousand dollars repeated the
asher. That's good deal of money,
Toung gentleman"
Il know it. said Jack II wants :