Jacob Abbott

“ Georgie had been sick a great many years, and when Rollo and Jonas first knew him, he used to be very sad and unhappy. It was because the poor little fellow had nothing to do. His father had to work pretty hard to get food and clothing for his family; he loved little Georgie very much, but he could not buy him many things. Sometimes people who visited him, used to give him playthings, and they would amuse him a little while, 166but he soon grew tired of them, and had them put away. It is very hard for any body to be happy who has not any thing to do. ”

“ The little girl laid the slate down, and looked disappointed and sad. Rollo's mother came up to her, took up the slate, and said,
"I should think you had better give him fifteen cents. It is a very good slate. It is worth as much as that, certainly." ”

“ Wise came up, and tried to get the money out with a stick, but he could not. He told Shallow not to cry; said he was sorry he had lost his money, and that he would give him half of his, as soon as they could get it changed at the shop.
So they walked along to the toy-shop.
Their mother said that each one might choose his own plaything; so they began to look around on the counter and shelves.
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After a while, Shallow began to laugh very loud and heartily at something he found. ”

“ But things that please you only by their novelty, will soon lose all their power to give you pleasure, and be good for nothing to you. Such, for instance, as jumping men, and witches, and funny little images. Children are very often deceived in buying their playthings; for those things which please by their novelty only, usually please them very much for a few minutes, while they 181are in the shop, and see them for the first time; while those things which would last a long time, do not give them much pleasure at first. ”

“ The more they played with the ball, the more they liked it, and as Wise was always very careful not to play near any holes, and to put it away safe when he, had done with it, he kept it a long time, and gave them pleasure a great many times all summer long. ”

“ Shallow was sure that he should never get tired of laughing at so very droll a thing as the grinning monkey; and he decided to buy it, if Wise would give him half of his money; and so Wise did.
Selfish found a rattle, a large, noisy rattle, and went to springing it until they were all tired of hearing the noise.
"I think I shall buy this," said he. "I can make believe that there is a fire, and can run about springing my rattle, and crying, 'Fire! ”

“ He would get it out in the long winter evenings, and lend Selfish and Shallow, each, one of his pens; and they would all sit at the table, and make pictures, and write little letters, and seal them with small bits of the wafers. ”

“ At last, however, it was agreed that Rollo and James should furnish one cent each, and Georgie the rest. This was all agreed upon after a low 190conversation by themselves in a corner of the store; and then Jonas came forward, and told the shopman that they were going to pay the additional five cents, and that he might let the girl have the slate. So Jonas paid the money, and it was agreed that Rollo and James should pay him back their share, when they got their money changed. The boys were very much pleased to see the little girl go away so happy with her slate in her hand. ”