The boys continued talking about the hornet's nest all the way home, and forgot to say any thing more about the causey until just as they were going into the yard. Then they told Jonas that he had not told them how to put on the gravel, on the top.
He said he could not tell them then, and, besides, they would have as much as they could do to put in stones for one day.
Besides, James said it was sundown, and time for him to go home; but he promised to come the next morning, if his mother would let him, as soon as he had finished his lessons.
Keeping Tally.
Rollo and James began their work the next day about the middle of the forenoon, determined to obey Jonas's directions exactly, and to work industriously for an hour. They put a number of small pieces of board upon their wheelbarrows, to put along the pathway at first, and just as they had got them placed, Jonas came down just to see whether they were beginning right.
He saw them wheel in one or two loads of stones, and told them he thought they were doing very well.
"We have earned one cent already," said Rollo.
"How," said Jonas; "is your father going to pay you for your work?"
"Yes," said Rollo, "a cent for every two loads we put in."
"Then you must keep tally," said Jonas.
"Tally," said Rollo, "what is tally?"
"Tally is the reckoning. How are you going to remember how many loads you wheel in?"
"O, we can remember easily enough," said Rollo: "we will count them as we go along."
"That will never do," said Jonas. "You must mark them down with a piece of chalk on your wheelbarrow."
So saying, Jonas fumbled in his pockets, and drew out a small, well-worn piece of chalk, and then tipped up Rollo's wheelbarrow, saying,
"How many loads do you say you have carried already?"
"Two," said Rollo.
"Two," repeated Jonas; and he made two white marks with his chalk on the side of the wheelbarrow.
"There!" said he.
"Mark mine," said James; "I have wheeled two loads."
Jonas marked them, and then laid the chalk down upon a flat stone by the side of the path, and told the boys that they must stop after every load, and make a mark, and that would keep the reckoning exact.
Jonas then left them, and the boys went on with their work. They wheeled ten loads of stones apiece, and by that time had the bottom of the path all covered, so that they could not wheel any more, without the long boards. They went up and got the boards, and laid them down as Jonas had described, and then went on with their wheeling.
At first, James kept constantly stopping, either to play, or to hear Rollo talk; for they kept the wheelbarrows together all the time, as Jonas had recommended. At such times, Rollo would remind him of his work, for he had himself learned to work steadily. They were getting on very finely, when, at length, they heard a bell ringing at the house.
This bell was to call them home; for as Rollo and Jonas were often away at a little distance from the house, too far to be called very easily, there was a bell to ring to call them home; and Mary, the girl, had two ways of ringing it-one way for Jonas, and another for Rollo.
The bell was rung now for Rollo; and so he and James walked along towards home. When they had got about half way, they saw Rollo's father standing at the door, with a basket in his hand; and he called out to them to bring their wheelbarrows.
So the boys went back for their wheelbarrows.
When they came up a second time with their wheelbarrows before them, he asked how they had got along with their work.
"O, famously," said Rollo. "There is the tally," said he, turning up the side of the wheelbarrow towards his father, so that he could see all the marks.
"Why, have you wheeled as many loads as that?" said his father.
"Yes, sir," said Rollo, "and James just as many too."
"And were they all good loads?"
"Yes, all good, full loads."
"Well, you have done very well. Count them, and see how many there are."
The boys counted them, and found there were fifteen.
"That is enough to come to seven cents, and one load over," said Rollo's father; and he took out his purse, and gave the boys seven cents each, that is, a six-cent piece in silver, and one cent besides. He told them they might keep the money until they had finished their work, and then he would tell them about purchasing something with it.
"Now," said he, "you can rub out the tally-all but one mark. I have paid you for fourteen loads, and you have wheeled in fifteen; so you have one mark to go to the new tally. You can go round to the shed, and find a wet cloth, and wipe out your marks clean, and then make one again, and leave it there for to-morrow."
"But we are going right back now," said Rollo.
"No," said his father; "I don't want you to do any more to-day."
"Why not, father? We want to, very much."
"I cannot tell you why, now; but I choose you should not. And, now, here is a luncheon for you in this basket. You may go and eat it where you please."
Rights Defined.
So the boys took the basket, and, after they had rubbed out the tally, they went and sat down by their sand-garden, and began to eat the bread and cheese very happily together.
After they had finished their luncheon, they went and got a watering-pot, and began to water their sand-garden, and, while doing it, began to talk about what they should buy with their money. They talked of several things that they should like, and, at last, Rollo said he meant to buy a bow and arrow with his.
"A bow and arrow?" said James. "I do not believe your father will let you."
"Yes, he will let me," said Rollo. "Besides, it is our money, and we can do what we have a mind to with it."
"I don't believe that," said James.
"Why, yes, we can," said Rollo.
"I don't believe we can," said James.
"Well, I mean to go and ask my father," said Rollo, "this minute."
So he laid down the watering-pot, and ran in, and James after him. When they got into the room where his father was, they came and stood by his side a minute, waiting for him to be ready to speak to them.
Presently, his father laid down his pen, and said,
"What, my boys!"
"Is not this money our own?" said Rollo.
"Yes."
"And can we not buy what we have a mind to with it?"
"That depends upon what you have a mind to buy."
"But, father, I should think that, if it was our own, we might do any thing with it we please."
"No," said his father, "that does not follow, at all."
"Why, father," said Rollo, looking disappointed, "I thought every body could do what they pleased with their own things."
"Whose hat is that you have on? Is it James's?"
"No, sir, it is mine."
"Are you sure it is your own?"
"Why, yes, sir," said Rollo, taking off his hat and looking at it, and wondering what his father could mean.
"Well, do you suppose you have a right to go and sell it?"
"No, sir," said Rollo.
"Or go and burn it up?"
"No, sir."
"Or give it away?"
"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?"