"
David leaned upon the counter and began a little problem in mental
arithmetic, with the view of ascertaining how much of his money it
would take to keep his mother supplied with the luxuries the grocer
had mentioned for one month, and how much he would have left to
invest in clothing for her; but before the problem was solved the
grocer had placed three neat packages, good-sized ones, too, on the
counter, and was looking for a basket to put them in.
"Now, then," said he, briskly, "what next? A dress for mother or a
pair of shoes for yourself? The mornings are getting to be pretty
cold now, and you can't run around barefooted much longer. Ah, Dan!
how do you do?"
David looked up and was surprised to see his brother standing by his
side. He was surprised, too, to notice that the grocer greeted him
almost as cordially as he had greeted himself but a few minutes
before. David was not glad that he was there, for the expression on
Dan's face told him that he had seen and heard more than he had any
business to know. David made haste to finish his trading after that,
and when he had purchased a dress and a pair of shoes for his mother,
and a pair of shoes and stockings for himself, he handed out his
ten-dollar bill in payment.
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