racie; "at
least I'm afraid he won't; and--and oh, I do love him so! and he's the
only big brother we have."

"But we have papa, dear, dear papa, who used to be obliged to go away
and leave us; but we have him all the time now," Lulu replied half
chokingly. "I wish we could have them both, but we can't, and we both do
love papa the best after all."

"And papa loves his two dear little girls more than tongue can tell,"
the captain said in tenderest tones, drawing near, bending down to take
both in his arms together, and kissing first one and then the other. "Be
comforted, my darlings," he went on, holding them close to his heart;
"we haven't lost our Maxie by any means; and though I left him feeling a
trifle homesick and forlorn, he will get over that in a day or two I
know, and greatly enjoy the business of preparing himself for the life
work he has freely chosen."

"But, oh, papa, how he will miss our lovely home, and you, and all of
us!" sobbed Gracie, hiding her tear-stained face on her father's
shoulder.

"Not as you would, my darling," he replied, holding her close and
caressing her with great tenderness. "Boys are different from girls, and
I think our dear Maxie will soon feel very happy there among his mates,
though he will, I am sure, never cease to love his father, sisters,
Mamma Vi, baby brother, and his home with them all."

"Papa, I'm thinking how he'll miss the pleasant evenings at home--the
good talks with you," sobbed the little girl.

"Yes, darling, but I will tell you what we will do to partly, at least,
make up that loss to our dear boy."

"What, papa?" she asked, lifting her head and looking up into his face,
with her own brightening a little.

"Suppose we each keep a journal or diary, telling everything that goes
on each day at home, and now and then send them to Maxie; so that he
will know all that we are doing?"

"Oh, what a good thought, papa!" exclaimed Lulu, giving him a vigorous
hug and kiss. "And Maxie will write us nice, interesting letters; and
some day he'll come home for a visit and have ever so much to tell us."

"Yes," her father said, "and I think we will have interesting letters
from him in the meantime."

"And perhaps I'll learn to like writing letters, when it's just to
please Maxie and comfort him," said Grace, wiping away her tears and
trying to smile.

"I hope so, darling," her father replied, bestowing another kiss upon
the sweet little tear-stained face. "But now