1. '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.
2. 'Shall I make a pair of scales, Lucy, for you to use when you play store?'
3. 'Oh yes! but how can you do that'!'
4. '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.'
5. Lucy ran out to the woodhouse to find the sticks.--' Will these do?'
6. 'No, they are too hard. Find some pine sticks if you can.'
7. 'Here are some.'
8. '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'!'
9. 'Will a ribbon block do, Herbert?'
10. 'Yes, if it is not too thick.'
11. 'Here is one an inch thick.'
12. 'That will be just right. Now get the little gimlet.'
13. 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.
14. '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.
15. 'There, Lucy, what do you think of that?'
16. '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.'