, always," remarked
Max.

"Yes, they ought," said his father; "the command is, 'Rejoice in the
Lord always,' and it is only lack of faith that prevents any of us from
doing so."

Arrived at their destination they found a little crowd of idlers
gathered about the door of the magistrate's office whither the two
prisoners had been taken a few moments before. As the Woodburn carriage
drove up, and the captain and his children alighted from it, the crowd
parted to let them pass in, several of the men lifting their hats with a
respectful, "Good morning, sir," to the captain. "Good morning, Master
Max."

Their salutations were politely returned, and the captain stepped into
the office, holding Lulu by the hand, and closely followed by Max.

Harold and Herbert had arrived a little in advance, and were among the
spectators who, with the officers and their prisoners, nearly filled the
small room.

The children behaved very well indeed, showing by their manner when
taking the oath to tell "the truth the whole truth and nothing but the
truth," that they were duly impressed with the solemnity of the act, and
the responsibility they were assuming.

Lulu was of course the principal witness, and her modest, self possessed
bearing, equally free from boldness and forwardness on the one hand, and
bashfulness and timidity on the other, pleased her father extremely and
won the admiration of all present; as did also her simple,
straightforward way of telling her story.

The evidence was so full and clear that the magistrate had no hesitation
in committing the accused for trial at the approaching spring term of
court. In default of bail they were sent back to prison.

"Take me to the nursery, Vi," Grandma Elsie said, when the departure of
the party destined for the magistrate's office, had left them alone
together. "I feel that an hour with my little grandchildren will be
quite refreshing. The darlings are scarcely less dear to me than were
their mother and her brothers and sisters in their infancy."

"And they are so fond of you, mamma," responded Violet, leading the way.

Little Elsie set up a glad shout at sight of her grandmother. "I so
glad, I so glad! P'ease take Elsie on your lap, g'amma, and tell pitty
'tories."

"Oh don't begin teazing for stories the very first minute," said Violet.
"You tire poor, dear grandma."

"No, mamma, Elsie won't tease, 'cause papa says it's naughty. But dear
g'amma likes to tell Elsie 'torie