When they got him quiet and heard the story , Mrs. Quinn rather damped his joy , by telling him the money was n't his , and he ought to advertise it . ` But I want it for Nanny ! ' cried Jack ; ` and how can I ever find who owns it , when there was ever so many barrels emptied in that heap , and no one knows where they came from ? ' ` It 's very like you wo n't find the owner , and you can do as you please ; but it 's honest to try , I 'm thinking , for some poor girl may have lost her earnin 's this way , and we would n't like that ourselves , ' said Mrs. Quinn , turning over the shabby pocket-book , and carefully searching for some clue to its owner . Nanny looked very sober , and Jack grabbed up the money as if it were too precious to lose . But he was n't comfortable about it ; and after a hard fight with himself he consented to let Mrs. Quinn ask their policeman what they should do . He was a kindly man ; and when he heard the story , said he 'd do what was right , and if he could n't find an owner , Jack should have the fifty dollars back . How hard it was to wait ! how Jack thought and dreamed of his money , day and night ! How Nanny ran to the door to listen when a heavy step came up the stairs ! and how wistfully the poor darkened eyes turned to the light which they longed to see again . Honest John Floyd did his duty , but he did n't find the owner ; so the old purse came back at last , and now Jack could keep it with a clear conscience . Nanny was asleep when it happened ; and as they sat counting the dingy bills , Mrs. Quinn said to the boy , ` Jack , you 'd better keep this for yourself . I doubt if it 's enough to do the child any good ; and you need clothes and shoes , and a heap of things , let alone the books you hanker after so much . It ai n't likely you 'll ever find another wallet . It 's all luck about Nanny 's eyes ; and maybe you are only throwing away a chance you 'll never have again . ' Jack leaned his head on his arms and stared at the money , all spread out there , and looking so magnificent to him that it seemed as if it could buy half the world . He did need clothes ; his hearty boy 's appetite did long for better food ; and , oh ! how splendid it would be to go and buy the books he had wanted so long , -- the books that would give him a taste of the knowledge which was more enticing to his wide-awake young mind than clothes and food to his poor little body . It was n't an easy thing to do ; but he was so used to making small sacrifices that the great one was less hard ; and when he had brooded over the money a few minutes in thoughtful silence , his eye went from the precious bits of paper to the dear little face in the trundle-bed , and he said , with a decided nod , ` I 'll give Nanny the chance , and work for my things , or go without 'em . '
Mrs. XXXXX was a matter-of-fact body ; but her hard old face softened when he said that , and she kissed him good-night almost as gently as if she 'd been his mother .
Floyd Jack Nanny Quinn day dollars minutes night pocket-book right