hing to do
but to count the number of grains in a single ounce, and there will be
thirty-two hundred times that number in the sack.

_Tommy._--I declare this is curious indeed, and I should like to learn
arithmetic. Will Harry and you teach me, sir?

_Mr Barlow._--You know we are always ready to improve you. But before we
leave this subject, I must tell you a little story. "There was a
gentleman who was extremely fond of beautiful horses, and did not grudge
to give the highest prices for them. One day a horse-courser came to
him, and showed him one so handsome, that he thought it superior to all
he had ever seen before. He mounted him, and found his paces equally
excellent; for, though he was full of spirit, he was gentle and
tractable as could be wished. So many perfections delighted the
gentleman, and he eagerly demanded the price. The horse-courser
answered, that he would bate nothing of two hundred guineas; the
gentleman, although he admired the horse, would not consent to give it,
and they were just on the point of parting. As the man was turning his
back, the gentleman called out to him, and said, 'Is there no possible
way of our agreeing, for I would give you anything in reason for such a
beautiful creature?' 'Why,' replied the dealer, who was a shrewd fellow,
and perfectly understood calculation, 'If you do not like to give me two
hundred guineas, will you give me a farthing for the first nail the
horse has in his shoe, two farthings for the second, four for the third,
and so go doubling throughout the whole twenty-four, for there are no
more than twenty-four nails in all his shoes?' The gentleman gladly
accepted the condition, and ordered the horse to be led away to his
stables."

_Tommy._--This fellow must have been a very great blockhead, to ask two
hundred guineas, and then to take a few farthings for his horse.

_Mr Barlow._--The gentleman was of the same opinion; "however, the
horse-courser added:--'I do not mean, sir, to tie you down to this last
proposal, which, upon consideration, you may like as little as the
first; all that I require is, that if you are dissatisfied with your
bargain, you will promise to pay me down the two hundred guineas which I
first asked.' This the gentleman willingly agreed to, and then called
the steward to calculate the sum, for he was too much of a gentleman to
be able to do it himself. The steward sat down with his pen and ink,
and, after some time, gravely wished his ma