all be taken ill, unless you buy my lead. 'Tis only
one cent a pound."

"If you gave it to me as a present, I wouldn't take your lead."

"Amy, you're caught! You said both _I_ and _lead_."

Notwithstanding all their care, the persevering lead-merchant entrapped
every one in some moment of weakness; and the company agreed that he
would make his fortune as a Yankee pedlar, or as an agent for some book
that nobody wanted,--many would buy to get rid of him, on the same
principle that the lady married her tiresome lover.

"And now," said Charlie, "let us play 'Trades.' We apprentice our son or
daughter to some business, and mention that the first thing sold begins
with a specified letter: but we must never repeat an article. The person
who guesses, apprentices his son the next. I apprenticed my son to a
carpenter, and the first thing he sold was a T."

"A table?" asked Mary. "I apprenticed my daughter to a milliner, and the
first thing she sold was a yard of R. R."

"Red ribbon?" added Gertrude. "I apprenticed my son to a grocer, and the
first thing he sold was a B. of R."

"Box of raisins?" inquired Cornelia. "I apprenticed my son to a
cabinet-maker, and the first thing he sold was a S."

"Sofa?" said Tom. "I apprenticed my daughter to a dry-goods store, and
the first thing she sold was ten yards of L."

"Lace?" asked Ellen.

"No--guess again."

"Linen? I see that's right. I apprenticed my son to a tinman, and the
first thing he sold was a N. G."

"Nutmeg-grater?" inquired George. "Now, I apprenticed my son to a
hardware man, and the first thing he sold was a P. of S."

"Pair of skates?" said Amy. "I apprenticed my son to a book-store, and
the first thing he sold was a P. B."

"Prayer-book? I apprenticed my daughter to a dressmaker, and the first
thing she made was a V. M."

"Velvet mantilla?" And so the game proceeded, the questions and answers
being tossed from one to another, like ball or shuttlecock, so that the
general interest was kept up.

"I think it high time we had our daily story," said Amy.

"So do I," replied her uncle; "and I commission you to tell it."

"I? oh no, uncle, I'm too young. I think the older ones should have the
monopoly of that trade--I wasn't apprenticed to it."

"Not at all--you are of suitable age to be apprenticed now, so you may
consider the bargain struck. Begin, my little Amy, and if you break down
in the middle of your tale, I'll promise to finish it myself."

"V