I
think of it, the rich do a great deal of good by buying the things of
the poor, and giving them money in return.

_Mr Barlow._--What is money?

_Tommy._--Money, sir; money is----I believe, little pieces of silver and
gold, with a head upon them.

_Mr Barlow._--And what is the use of those little pieces of silver and
gold?

_Tommy._--Indeed, I do not know that they are of any use; but everybody
has agreed to take them; and therefore you may buy with them whatever
you want.

_Mr Barlow._--Then, according to your last account, the goodness of the
rich consists in taking from the poor houses, clothes, and food, and
giving them in return little bits of silver and gold, which are really
good for nothing.

_Tommy._--Yes, sir; but then the poor can take these pieces of money and
purchase everything which they want.

_Mr Barlow._--You mean, that if a poor man has money in his pocket, he
can always exchange it for clothes, or food, or any other necessary?

_Tommy._--Indeed, I do, sir.

_Mr Barlow._--But whom must he buy them of? for according to your
account, the rich never produce any of these things; therefore the poor,
if they want to purchase them, can only do so of each other.

_Tommy._--But, sir, I cannot think that is always the case; for I have
been along with my mamma to shops, where there were fine powdered
gentlemen and ladies that sold things to other people, and
livery-servants, and young ladies that played on the harpsichord, like
Miss Matilda.

_Mr Barlow._--But, my good little friend, do you imagine that these fine
powdered gentlemen and ladies made the things which they sold?

_Tommy._--That, sir, I cannot tell, but I should rather imagine not; for
all the fine people I have ever seen are too much afraid of spoiling
their clothes to work.

_Mr Barlow._--All that they do, then, is to employ poorer persons to
work for them, while they only sell what is produced by their labour. So
that still you see we reach no farther than this; the rich do nothing
and produce nothing, and the poor everything that is really useful. Were
there a whole nation of rich people, they would all be starved, like the
Spaniard in the story, because no one would condescend to produce
anything; and this would happen in spite of all their money, unless they
had neighbours who were poorer to supply them. But a nation that was
poor might be industrious, and gradually supply themselves with all they
wanted; and then it would