s," Rosie was saying, "mamma gives me fifty cents a week for spending
money."

"Ah, how nice!" exclaimed Lulu. "Papa often gives us some money, but not
regularly, and Max and I have often talked together about how much we
would like to have a regular allowance. I'd be delighted, even if it
wasn't more than ten cents."

Violet had been wishing to give the children something, and trying to find
out what would be most acceptable, so was greatly pleased with the hint
given her by this little speech of Lulu's.

The child came presently to her side to bid her good-night. Violet put an
arm around her, and kissing her affectionately, said, "Lulu, I have been
thinking you might like to have an allowance of pocket money, as Rosie
has. Would you?"

"O Mamma Vi! I'd like it better than anything else I can think of!" cried
the little girl, her face sparkling with delight.

"Then you shall have it and begin now," Violet said, taking out her purse
and putting two bright silver quarters into Lulu's hand.

"Oh, thank you, mamma, how good and kind in you!" cried the child.

"Max shall have the same," said Violet, "and Gracie half as much for the
present. When she is a little older it shall be doubled. Don't you want
the pleasure of telling Max, and taking this to him?" she asked, putting
another half dollar into Lulu's hand.

"Oh yes, ma'am! Thank you very much!"

Max was on the farther side of the room--a good-sized parlor of the hotel
where they were staying--very much absorbed in a story-book; Lulu
approached him softly, a gleeful smile on her lips and in her eyes, and
laid his half dollar on the open page.

"What's that for?" he asked, looking round at her.

"For you; and you're to have as much every week, Mamma Vi says."

"O Lu! am I, really?"

"Yes; I too; and Gracie's to have a quarter."

"Oh, isn't it splendid!" he cried, and hurried to Violet to pour out his
thanks.

Grandma Elsie, seated on the sofa by Violet's side, shared with her the
pleasure of witnessing the children's delight.

Our friends had now spent several days in Boston, and the next morning
they left for Philadelphia, where they paid a short visit to relatives.
This was their last halt on the journey home to Ion.

CHAPTER VI.

"--to the guiltless heart, where'er we roam,
No scenes delight us like our much-loved home."
--Robert Hillhouse.

Elsie and her children had greatly enjoyed their summer at th