ide.

"I wish you didn't have to go, papa; but please come back as soon as you
can," she said coaxingly.

"I will, darling. And now, Aunt Chloe, I leave her in your care; don't
let her do anything to tire herself," he said as he went out.

Elsie listened until she heard the sound of his horse's hoofs as he
galloped down the avenue, and then turning to her nurse, she exclaimed
eagerly,

"Now, mammy, please hand me my work-box and that unfinished slipper."

"You's not fit to sew, darlin' chile," objected the careful old woman,
doing as she was asked, nevertheless.

"Well, mammy, I want to try, and I'll stop directly if it tires me,"
replied the little girl. "Please put me in my rocking-chair. They are
for papa, you see, and I want to get them done before Christmas."

"Dere's plenty ob time yet 'fore Christmas, darlin', to do dat little
bit," Chloe said; "'tain't comin' dis four or five weeks; better wait
till you git stronger."

Elsie was not to be dissuaded, however, from making the attempt; but
a very few moments' work satisfied her that she was still too weak for
such an employment; and she readily consented to let Chloe put away her
work-box and lay her on her sofa again, where she spent the rest of the
time in reading her Bible until her father returned. Then came her ride,
and then a nap, which took up all the morning until near dinner-time.

She found Mr. Travilla sitting there, talking with her father, when she
awoke. She was very glad to see him, and to hear that he was going to
stay to dinner; and they had quite a little chat together about the new
home and its surroundings.

After dinner, her Aunt Adelaide, Lora, and Walter called to see them and
the house; but both they and Mr. Travilla went away early--he promising
to bring his mother to see her very soon--and then she was left alone
with her father again.

"Would you like now to hear the remainder of the story we were reading
yesterday, daughter?" he asked.

"Very much, papa; I have been wanting it all day."

"Why did you not ask for it, then?" he inquired.

"Because, papa, I was ashamed, after being so naughty about it
yesterday," she answered, hanging her head and blushing deeply.

"Well, you shall have it now, daughter," he said luridly, pressing his
lips to the little blushing cheek. "I had forgotten about it, or I would
have given you the book to read while I was out this morning."

A very pleasant, happy life had now begun for our li