Child thought it capital fun, went back next day, and swallowed another bead.' 'Bless my heart,' said Mr.Pickwick, 'what a dreadful thing! I beg your pardon, Sir.

Go on.' 'Next day, child swallowed two beads; the day after that, he treated himself to three, and so on, till in a week's time he had got through the necklace--five-and-twenty beads in all.

The sister, who was an industrious girl, and seldom treated herself to a bit of finery, cried her eyes out, at the loss of the necklace; looked high and low for it; but, I needn't say, didn't find it.

A few days afterwards, the family were at dinner--baked shoulder of mutton, and potatoes under it--the child, who wasn't hungry, was playing about the room, when suddenly there was heard a devil of a noise, like a small hailstorm.

"Don't do that, my boy," said the father.