at
might otherwise be used for the good of our fellow creatures, and the
advancement of Christ's kingdom."

"Yes, papa, I was, and I'm trying, and asking God to help me, not to
want the ring I asked you for; but I'm afraid it'll take me quite a
while to quite stop wishing for it," she sighed.

"You will conquer at length, if you keep on trying and asking for help,"
he said, giving her a tender kiss.

"A good plan will be to fill your thoughts with other things," he went
on; "your lessons while in the school-room, after that you may find it
pleasant to begin planning for Christmas gifts to be made or bought for
those you love, and others whom you would like to help. I shall give
each of you--including Max--as much extra spending money as I did last
year."

"Beside all that for benevolence, papa?" they asked in surprise and
delight.

"Yes; what I provide you with for benevolence, is something aside from
your spending money, which you are at liberty to do with as you please,
within certain bounds," he said rising and taking a hand of each as the
breakfast bell sounded out its summons to the morning meal.

Misconduct and poor recitations were alike very rare in the school-room
at Woodburn; neither found a place there to-day, so that the captain had
only commendations to bestow, and they were heartily and gladly given.

The ice and snow had entirely disappeared, and the roads were muddy; too
muddy, it was thought, to make travel over them particularly agreeable;
but the children obtained sufficient exercise in romping over the wide
porches and trotting round the grounds on their ponies.

But in spite of the bad condition of the roads, the Ion carriage drove
over early in the afternoon, and Grandma Elsie, Mrs. Elsie Leland--her
namesake daughter--Rosie and Evelyn alighted from it. Everybody was
delighted to see them, and to hear that they would stay to tea.

"O girls," said Lulu, "come up to my room and take off your things. I've
something to tell you," and she looked so gay and happy that they felt
quite sure it was something that pleased her greatly.

"I think I can guess what it is," laughed Rosie; "your father has
promised you the diamond ring you want so badly."

"No, it isn't that; you may have another guess; but I don't believe you
could hit the right thing if you should guess fifty or a hundred times."

"Then I sha'n't try. I give it up. Don't you, Eva?"

"Yes, please tell us, Lu," said Evelyn.

Then