He had "given him last year fifty dollars besides his salary." Livingstone was not surprised that this argument did not prove as availing with the child as the parents appeared to expect .-- Fifty dollars! He hated himself for it.

He felt that he would give fifty thousand to drop that millstone from his neck.
They next tried the argument that Livingstone wanted to have a Christmas-tree for poor children and needed her help.

He wanted her to go with him to a toy-shop.

He did not know what to get and wished her to tell him.

He had his sleigh to take her.
This seemed to strike one of the other members of the family, for suddenly a boy's eager voice burst in: "I'll go with him.