Pleasant visions of tea and bread, and even of a pound of butter, passed before Ernest's eyes; but then an unexpected difficulty arose. Where was the sum necessary for the outfit to come from? It certainly did not need a very extensive capital; but dollars, or even shillings, were hard to find. Ernest had not answered the question to his satisfaction, when he found himself at the door of the building, where he was to obtain the work for his mother. There was little trouble in making the desired arrangement. Mrs. Lawrence was well known at the establishment as an excellent workwoman; and the work, and the dollar in advance, were readily furnished.
Encouraged by this success, Ernest involuntarily exclaimed,
"Oh, how I wish that some one would lend me a dollar!"
"And what would you do with a dollar, my little man?" inquired a gentleman standing by, attracted by the earnestness of the boy's manner.
Ernest blushed deeply, but answered, in a firm tone,
"I would buy a basket and some matches, and other things, and sell them in the street; and then my poor mother would not have to work so hard."

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