rn his bread by the work he loves. Build him up for
another year or so, and then I will take him off your hands, and launch
him properly."

"That is such a pleasant prospect for poor Nat, who came to me six
months ago so friendless and forlorn. Dan's future is already plain
to me. Mr. Hyde will want him soon, and I mean to give him a brave and
faithful little servant. Dan is one who can serve well if the wages are
love and confidence, and he has the energy to carve out his own future
in his own way. Yes, I am very happy over our success with these boys
one so weak, and one so wild; both so much better now, and so full of
promise."

"What magic did you use, Jo?"

"I only loved them, and let them see it. Fritz did the rest."

"Dear soul! you look as if 'only loving' had been rather hard work
sometimes," said Laurie, stroking her thin cheek with a look of more
tender admiration than he had ever given her as a girl.

"I'm a faded old woman, but I'm a very happy one; so don't pity me,
Teddy;" and she glanced about the room with eyes full of a sincere
content.

"Yes, your plan seems to work better and better every year," he said,
with an emphatic nod of approval toward the cheery scene before him.

"How can it fail to work well when I have so much help from you all?"
answered Mrs. Jo, looking gratefully at her most generous patron.

"It is the best joke of the family, this school of yours and its
success. So unlike the future we planned for you, and yet so suited to
you after all. It was a regular inspiration, Jo," said Laurie, dodging
her thanks as usual.

"Ah! but you laughed at it in the beginning, and still make all manner
of fun of me and my inspirations. Didn't you predict that having girls
with the boys would be a dead failure? Now see how well it works;" and
she pointed to the happy group of lads and lassies dancing, singing, and
chattering together with every sign of kindly good fellowship.

"I give in, and when my Goldilocks is old enough I'll send her to you.
Can I say more than that?"

"I shall be so proud to have your little treasure trusted to me. But
really, Teddy, the effect of these girls has been excellent. I know you
will laugh at me, but I don't mind, I'm used to it; so I'll tell you
that one of my favorite fancies is to look at my family as a small
world, to watch the progress of my little men, and, lately, to see how
well the influence of my little women works upon them. Daisy is the
domest