een extremely kind to me, and I shall always remember it
with the greatest gratitude; but I want to see my father immediately,
and I am sure, when you come to know the occasion, you will not
disapprove of it." Mr Barlow did not press him any further, but ordered
a careful servant to saddle a horse directly and take Tommy home before
him.

Mr and Mrs Merton were extremely surprised and over-joyed at the sight
of their son, who thus unexpectedly arrived at home; but Tommy, whose
mind was full of the project he had formed, as soon as he had answered
their first questions, accosted his father thus--"Pray, sir, will you be
angry with me if I ask you for a great favour?" "No, surely," said Mr
Merton, "that I will not." "Why, then," said Tommy, "as I have often
heard you say that you were very rich, and that if I was good I should
be rich too. Will you give me some money?" "Money!" said Mr Merton;
"yes, to be sure; how much do you want?" "Why, sir," said Tommy, "I want
a very large sum indeed." "Perhaps a guinea," answered Mr Merton.
_Tommy._--No, sir, a great deal more--a great many guineas. _Mr
Merton._--Let us however see. _T._--Why, sir, I want at least forty
pounds. "Bless the boy!" answered Mrs Merton; "surely Mr Barlow must
have taught him to be ten times more extravagant than he was before."
_T._--Indeed, madam, Mr Barlow knows nothing about the matter. "But,"
said Mr Merton, "what can such an urchin as you want with such a large
sum of money?" "Sir," answered Tommy, "that is a secret; but I am sure
when you come to hear it, you will approve of the use I intend to make
of it." _Mr M._--That I very much doubt. _T._--But, sir, if you please,
you may let me have this money, and I will pay you again by degrees. _Mr
M._--How will you ever be able to pay me such a sum? _T._--Why, sir, you
know you are so kind as frequently to give me new clothes and
pocket-money; now, if you will only let me have this money, I will
neither want new clothes nor anything else till I have made it up. _Mr
M._--But what can such a child as you want with all this money?
_T._--Pray, sir, wait a few days and you shall know; and if I make a bad
use of it, never believe me again as long as I live.

Mr Merton was extremely struck with the earnestness with which his son
persevered in the demand; and, as he was both very rich and liberal, he
determined to hazard the experiment, and comply with his request. He
accordingly went and fetched him the money w