"I'll give my watch (if I get it, I mean) to somebody. I'll give it to the mulatto woman, because she is poor. No; I'll give it to you, because you are the best, and I love you the best, and I am more obliged to you than to any body in the world, for you have taught me more; and you have taught me as I was never taught before, without laughing at, or scolding, or frightening, or calling me blockhead or dunce; and you have made me think a great deal better of myself; and I am always happy when I'm with you; and I'm quite another creature since you came to school. I hope you'll never leave school whilst I am here," cried Oliver. "But you have quite forgot the lottery," said Howard, smiling, and much touched by his little friend's simplicity and enthusiasm. "Oh, the lottery! ay," said Oliver, "you were telling me something about yourself; do go on." "I once thought, as you do now, that it would be a charming thing to put into a lottery." "Well, and did you win?" "No." "Did you lose?" "No." "How then?" "I did not put into the lottery, for I was convinced that it was a foolish way of spending money." "If you think it's foolish or wrong," said Oliver, "I'll have nothing to do with this lottery." "I don't want to govern you by my opinion," said Howard; "but if you have patience to attend to all the reasons that convinced me, you will be able to judge, and form an opinion for yourself. You know I must leave school some time or other, and then--" "Well, don't talk of that, but tell me all the reasons, quick." "I can't tell them so very quickly," said Howard, laughing: "when we go home this evening I'll ask my aunt to look for the passage in Smith's Wealth of Nations, which she showed me." "Oh!" interrupted Oliver, with a sigh, "_Smith's Wealth_ of what? That's a book, I'm sure, I shall never be able to understand; is it not that great large book that Mr. Russell reads?" "Yes." "But I shall never understand it." "Because it's a large book?" "No," said Oliver, smiling, "but because I suppose it's very difficult to understand." "Not what I've read of it: but I have only read passages here and there. That passage about lotteries, I think, you would understand, because it is so plainly written." "I'll read it, then," said Oliver, "and try; and in the meantime I'll go and tell Holloway that I had rather not put into the lottery, till I know whether it's right or not." Holloway flew into a violent passion with little Oliver when he went to return his lottery ticket. He abused and ridiculed Howard for his interference, and succeeded so well in raising a popular cry, that the moment Howard appeared on the playground, a general hiss, succeeded by a deep groan, was heard.--Howard recollected the oracle's answer to Cicero, and was not dismayed by the voice of the multitude. Holloway threw down half-a-guinea, to pay Oliver, and muttered to himself, "I'll make you remember this, Mr. Oliver."