# The New Scales - Source: McGuffey's Second Reader (second-reader.gutenberg.org), Public domain, William Holmes McGuffey, 1879, via Project Gutenberg - Reading level: Grades 1 and 2 - Subjects: Stories - Topics: herbert, little, lucy, post, beam, find - Length: 307 words, about 2 min - Original: - Page: - Open in Sprouts: 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." ## Picture credits - illustrator not named in this edition, Public domain () - illustrator not named in this edition, Public domain ()