David wanted a knife, Johnnie
wanted a whip, Annie nothing in particular, only to go into a shop,
and buy--she didn't know what.
But the wonderful affair at the post-office must have the first turn;
and very grand did David feel as the clerk peeped out from his little
hole, and looked amused and gracious as the little boy stood on
tiptoe to give in his green paper.
"Will you have it in gold or silver, Sir?" he asked.
"In gold, please," said David.
It was something to have a bit of gold in one's possession for the
first time in one's life; and David felt as if he had grown an inch
taller, and were as good as six years old, as he walked away with the
half sovereign squeezed into his hot little palm.
The toy-shop was at the end of the street, and in they went; Johnnie
to try all the whistles in the handles of the whips, and be much
disgusted that all that had a real sound lash cost a shilling; David
to open and shut the sixpenny knives with the gravity of a judge
examining their blades; and Annie to gape about, and ask the price of
everything, after the tiresome fashion of people, old or young, when
they come out bent on spending, but without any aim or object.
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