THE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.
be if I might have the cellar keys, and all the other keys hanging to my side, so that every one might see that I was trusted with them; and I was reasoning, that perhaps my mother had behaved like a little woman, because she was treated like one.
'My dear, I did not mean that she was worse than many other children,' repeated my grandfather; 'come here, child, and I'll kiss you.'
My mother pleaded, by way of apology for me,—'She has a very good memory.'
'Memory! ay, there's another disadvantage. She remembers everything; she's a mere parrot. Why, when you, at her age, wanted a punishment, if I set you twenty lines of poetry, they'd keep you quiet for an hour. Set this child eighty—knows 'em directly, and there's time wasted in hearing her say 'em into the bargain.'
'I hope she will become more thoughtful as she grows older,' said my mother, gently.
'I hope she will; there's room for improvement. Come and sit on my knee, child. So this is your birthday. Well, I suppose I must give you some present or other. Leave the child with me, my dear, I'll take care of her. But I won't detain you, for the proofs are all ready. Open the door for your mother, Orris. Ah! you'll never be anything like her—never.'
I did as he desired, and then my grandfather, looking at me with comical gravity, took out a leathern purse, and dived with his fingers among the contents. 'When I was a little boy, as old as you are, nobody gave me any money.'
Encouraged by his returning good humor, I drew
