articlesforchristians

Peter and Polly had not really waited very long when Tim came past. He saw the tents in Peter’s yard. They were quite near the road.

“What are you doing?” he called. “Are you playing something? I wish to play, too.”

“We have a store,” said Polly. “We are selling lemonade and sandwiches. Do you wish to buy?”

“Yes,” said Tim. “I do. I have some money. My mother just gave it to me. I was going to the store for candy. I will buy a glass of lemonade.”

“Have you two cents?” asked Polly. “It will be two cents.”

“Here it is, Polly. And I have more than that. I will buy some sandwiches. How much are they, Peter?”

“I will sell you all there are on this plate for two cents, Tim,” said Peter.

“Oh Peter!” cried Polly. “You must not do that. You do not charge enough. Sell him four for two cents. They are big ones, anyway.”

“I wish that I could play with you,” said Tim. “I could help sell things.”

“Come into my tent then,” said Peter. “You may play with us.”

In just a few minutes Tim’s father drove up the road.

“Father, father!” called Tim. “Here is a store. You must stop and buy something.”

“Whoa,” said his father to the horse. “What have you to sell? Why, it looks like lemonade. That is just what I need. Give me a glass. Yes, that is good. Give me another glass, Polly. Now, how much do I owe you?”

“Two cents for each glass, please. That will be four cents.”

“That is very cheap,” said Tim’s father. “At the circus, we have to pay ten cents a glass. And, at the fair, it costs five cents. I think that I will pay you ten cents for the two glasses.”

“Thank you very much,” said Polly. “I hope you will come again.”

“Now, father, you must buy something to eat,” said Tim. “That is what Peter and I are selling.”

“Very well,” said his father. “I believe that I am hungry. And supper time is a long way off. How much are the sandwiches?”

“I will give you all there are on that plate for five cents,” said Peter.

“No, you will not, Peter,” said Tim. “I had just four for two cents. So that is all you can have, father.”

“That will be quite enough,” said his father. “Give me four of those big ones, and you may have this five-cent piece. Here comes your grandmother, Polly. Perhaps she will be a good customer.”

Polly’s grandmother lives down the road just a little way. She is Mr. Howe’s mother.

“Oh grandmother, will you buy something from us?” called the children.

“That is just what I came for,” said grandmother. “I heard you were keeping a store.”

“How did you hear it, grandmother?” asked Peter.

“A little bird told me, Peter. Haven’t you any cookies to sell? I must have cookies for supper. Oh, yes, I see them. Run into the house, Peter. Get a paper bag for them.”

Polly counted the cookies for Peter. He could not count very well. There were just one dozen.

“I will give you ten cents for those cookies,” said grandmother. “And now, Polly, I will drink a glass of your good lemonade. Here are three cents for it. Goodbye.”

“Let’s drink up the rest,” said Polly. “I am thirsty. Besides we have enough money. We can eat up the rest of the sandwiches, too. I have thought of something to do tomorrow.”

“Let’s have another store,” said Peter.

“No,” said Polly. “We will have a circus. Tim’s father made me think of it. He said something about lemonade at the circus.”

“How can we?” asked Tim.

“I will think and tell you tomorrow morning,” said Polly. “You come down early. Now let’s carry the things back into the house.”