"That is right, my dear little daughter," he returned, smiling kindly
upon her.

"You asked just now," he went on, "if your mamma Vi would teach you
these things. When I asked her to become my wife, I promised that she
should have no care or responsibility in the matter of training and
looking after the welfare of the three children I then had; because her
mother objected, that she was too young for such a burden: so now that I
can live at home with my children, and have no business that need
interfere, I shall do my best to be father and mother both to them."

"How nice, papa!" she exclaimed joyfully. "Oh, I do think we ought to be
the happiest children in the world, with such a dear, kind father, and
such a lovely home! But"--her face clouded, and she sighed deeply.

"But what, my child?"

"I was thinking of that dreadful temper that is always getting the
better of me. But you will help me to conquer it, papa?" she added, half
inquiringly, half in assertion.

"I fully intend to do all in my power to that end," he said in a tender
tone; "but, my beloved child, the hardest part of the battle must
inevitably be your own. You must watch and pray against that, your
besetting sin, never allowing yourself to be a moment off your guard."

"I mean to, papa; and you will watch me, and warn me when you see that I
am forgetting?"

"I shall be constantly endeavoring to do so," he answered,--"trying to
guard and guide all my children, looking carefully after their welfare,
physical, mental, moral, and spiritual.

"To that end, I have just been examining some of the reading-matter
which has been provided for them in my absence; and, so far as I have
made myself acquainted with it, I decidedly approve it, as I expected I
should; having all confidence in those who chose it for you,--grandpa
Dinsmore and grandma Elsie.

"This little paper, 'The Youth's Companion,' strikes me as very
entertaining and instructive, also of excellent moral tone. Do you like
it?"

"Oh, yes, indeed, papa! we are all very fond of it, and find a great
deal of useful information in it. I wouldn't be without it for a great
deal, nor Max wouldn't either; and Gracie likes the part for the little
folks ever so much."

"Then, we will continue to take it," he said; "also this magazine, 'St.
Nicholas,' if you like it, as I can hardly doubt that you do."

"Indeed we do!" she exclaimed: "we wouldn't any of us like to do without
that, either. Oh, I am