Jimmy sat down on the curb suddenly.  His money always came in pennies and nickels and dimes and quarters.  The Little Mother sometimes earned a dollar at a time, but never in his whole life had Jimmy possessed a ten-dollar bill.

Think of the possibilities to a little, poor, cold, worried boy.  There was two months’ rent in that ten-dollar bill—­two months in which he would not have to worry over whether there would be a roof over their heads.

Then there was a basket stall in that ten-dollar bill.  That had always been his ambition.  Some one had told him that baskets sold well in other cities, and not a single person had opened a basket stall in Old Market, and that was Jimmy’s chance.  Once established, he knew he could earn a good living.

As for ten dollars’ worth of groceries and provisions, Jimmy’s mind could not grasp such a thing; fifty cents had always been the top limit for a grocery bill.

But—­it wasn’t Jimmy’s ten dollars.  Like a flash his dreams tumbled to the ground.  There had been many people coming and going through Old Market, but Jimmy knew that the bill was the General’s.  For the old gentleman had pulled out a roll when he reached for the five cents.  Yes, it was the General’s; but how to find the General?

Inside the market he found the General’s butcher.  Yes, the butcher knew the General’s address, for he was one of his best customers, and would keep Jimmy’s basket while the boy went to the house.

It was a long distance.  Jimmy passed rows of great stone mansions, and went through parks, where crocuses and hyacinths were just peeping out.

At last he came to the General’s.

A colored man answered the ring of the bell.

“Who shall I say?” he inquired loftily.  “The General is very busy, y’know.”

“Say Jimmy, from the market, please”; and Jimmy sat down on the great hall seat, feeling very much awed with all the magnificence.

“Well, well,” said the General, as he came puffing down the stairs.  “Well, well, and what do you want?”

“Please, sir, did you drop this?” and Jimmy held out the tightly rolled bill.

“Did I?  Well, now, I’m sure I don’t know.  Perhaps I did, perhaps I did.”

“I found it in front of my stall,” said Jimmy.

What a strange thing it seemed that the General should not know!  Jimmy would have known if he had lost a penny.  He began to feel that the General could not have a true idea of business.

The General took out a roll of bills.  “Let me see,” he said.  “Here’s my market list.  Yes, I guess that’s mine, sure enough.”

“I’m glad I noticed it,” said Jimmy, simply.  “I came near sweeping it into the street.”

“And what can I pay you for your trouble?” asked the General, looking at the boy keenly.

“Well,” said Jimmy, stoutly, “you see, business is business, and I had to take my time, and I’d like to get back as soon as I can.”