way?"

"No, sir."

"Then it seems that people cannot always do what they please with their
own things."

"Why, father, it seems to me, that is a very different thing."

"I dare say it seems so to you; but it is not--it is just the same thing.
No person can do _anything they please_ with their property. There are
limits and restrictions in all cases. And in all cases where children have
property, whether it is money, hats, toys, or any thing, they are always
limited and restricted to such a use of them _as their parents approve_.
So, when I give you money, it becomes yours just as your clothes, or your
wheelbarrow, or your books, are yours. They are all yours to use and to
enjoy; but in the way of using them and enjoying them, you must be under
my direction. Do you understand that?"

"Why, yes, sir," said Rollo.

"And does it not appear reasonable?"

"Yes, sir, I don't know but it is reasonable. But _men_ can do anything
they please with their money, can they not?"

"No," said his father; "they are under various restrictions made by the
laws of the land. But I cannot talk any more about it now. When you have
finished your work, I will talk with you about expending your money."

The boys went on with their work the next day, and built the causey up
high enough with stones. They then levelled them off, and began to wheel
on the gravel. Jonas made each of them a little shovel out of a shingle;
and, as the gravel was lying loose under a high bank, they could shovel it
up easily, and fill their wheelbarrows. The third day they covered the
stones entirely with gravel, and smoothed it all over with a rake and hoe,
and, after it had become well trodden, it made a beautiful, hard causey;
so that now there was a firm and dry road all the way from the house to
the watering-place at the brook.

Calculation.

On counting up the loads which it had taken to do this work, Rollo's
father found that he owed Rollo twenty-three cents, and James twenty-one.
The reason why Rollo had earned the most was because, at one time, James
said he was tired, and must rest, and, while he was resting, Rollo went on
wheeling.

James seemed rather sorry that he had not got as many cents as Rollo.

"I wish I had not stopped to rest," said he.

"I wish so too," said Rollo; "but I will give you two of my cents, and
then I shall have only twenty-one, like you."

"Shall we be alike then?"

"Yes," said Rollo; "for, you see, two cents