The New Scales

THE NEW SCALES.

• "Herbert, will you please peel my orange?" said Lucy. Herbert was reading his new book, but he put it down at once, and took the orange from his little sister.
• "Shall I make a pair of scales, Lucy, for you to use when you play store?"
• "Oh yes! but how can you do that'!"
• "I'll show you. First, we must take the peel off in two little cups, one just as large as the other. While I do this, see if you can find me two nice sticks about ten inches long."
• Lucy ran out to the woodhouse to find the sticks.—" Will these do?"
• "No, they are too hard. Find some pine sticks if you can."
• "Here are some."
• "These will do nicely. Now I must make a scale beam and a post. Can you find me a little block for a post, Lucy'!"
• "Will a ribbon block do, Herbert?"
• "Yes, if it is not too thick."
• "Here is one an inch thick."
• "That will be just right. Now get the little gimlet." [Footnote: gimlet: Hand tool with a spiraled shank, a screw tip, and a cross handle; used for boring holes.]
• Herbert worked away until he had made the beam and the post. Then he made a hole in the middle of the block, and put the post in. Next, he put the beam into a little groove at the top of the post, so that it would balance nicely.
• "Now, Lucy, we must have a needle and some thread. We must put four threads to each cup; then we will tie the threads to the ends of the beam.
• "There, Lucy, what do you think of that?"
• "Why, Herbert, that is just as nice as the real scales in father's store; and you may have all my orange for making them."