Yes, on the whole it did seem like begging. He had
not thought of that.

"Why can't it ever snow in this country?" he exclaimed suddenly. "Then I
could shovel it. That's the way boys make money 'back East'"

Then after a pause he burst forth again, "Or, I might pick berries--if
there were any berries!"

"It's not so very easy for little boys to earn money; is it, dear?" said
Aunt Vi, putting her arm around her young nephew and drawing him toward
her. "But when they've done wrong--you still think you did wrong, don't
you, Jimmy?"

"He knows he did," broke in Lucy. "My papa lent me the watch."

"She wasn't talking to you," remonstrated Jimmy. "Yes, auntie, I did
wrong; but Lucy needn't twit me of it! I won't be _characteristic_ any
more as long as I live."

Aunt Vi smiled and patted his head lovingly.

"No, dear, I think you'll be more thoughtful in future. But now let us
try to think what can be done to pay for the watch."

"I'll let him have some of the money I get for teaching. I always meant
to," said Kyzie.

"Very kind of you," returned Aunt Vi; "but we'll not take it if we can
help it, will we, Jimmy? I've been thinking it over for some days,
children; and a little plan has occurred to me. Would you like to know
what it is?"

They all looked interested. If Aunt Vi had a plan, it was sure to be
worth hearing.

"It is this: mightn't we get up some entertainments,--good ones that
would be worth paying for?"

"And sell the tickets? Oh, auntie, that's just the thing! That's
capital!" cried Edith and Kyzie. "You'd do it beautifully."

"I'm not so sure of that, girls. But we might join together and act a
little play that I've been writing; that is, we might try. What have you
to say, Jimmy? Could you help?"

"I don't know. I can't speak pieces worth a cent," replied the boy,
writhing and shuffling his feet. "Look here!" he said, brightening.
"Don't you want some nails driven? I can do that first rate."

Aunt Vi laughed and said nails might be needed in putting up a staging,
and she was sure that he could use a hammer better than she could.

Jimmy-boy, much gratified, struck an attitude, and pounding his left
palm with his thumb, repeated the rhyme:--

"Drive the nail straight, boys,
Hit it on the head;
Work with your might, boys,
Ere the day has fled."

"There, he can speak, I knew he could speak!" cried Lucy, in admiration.

It was settled that they were all to meet Wednesday