other investments; and Dick
was now president, with Tom secretary and Sam treasurer. The company
had been prosperous from the start, although on several occasions
enemies had done their best to give the concern a black eye.

When they were first married, Dick and his beautiful wife Dora had
begun housekeeping in a cosy apartment in the metropolis, and they had
presently been followed by Tom and Sam. But two years later the three
brothers had a chance to buy a beautiful plot of ground on Riverside
Drive facing the noble Hudson River, and on this they built three fine
houses adjoining each other, Dick living in the middle house with Tom
on one side and Sam on the other.

Before the happy young folks moved into the new homes, Dick and Dora
were blessed with a little son, who later on was named John, after Mr.
John Laning. Later still, this couple had a daughter, whom they named
Martha, after Aunt Martha of Valley Brook Farm. Little Jack, as he was
called in those days, was a wonderfully bright and clever lad with many
of the clear-minded qualities which had made his father so successful
in life.

About the time young Jack was presented with a baby sister, Tom and
Nellie Rover came forward with twin boys, one of whom was named
Anderson, after his grandfather, and the other Randolph, after his
uncle. Andy and Randy, as they were always called for short, were
exceedingly bright, each taking after his father, Andy always saying
things that were more or less funny and Randy playing tricks whenever
he got the chance. They were truly chips off the old block, and Tom
knew it, although outwardly he professed to be ignorant of the fact.

"Those twins will be some boys when they grow up," was old Anderson
Rover's comment, when the lads were less than five years old. "They're
just as full of fun now as Tom ever dared to be."

"So they are," answered his brother Randolph. "My! my! what will they
ever do with them when they get a little older?"

"I sha'n't mind," said Aunt Martha, her eyes beaming brightly. "That
is, if they are really and truly as good-hearted as Tom has always
been. He certainly was the worst of the lot when it came to playing
jokes, but no lad ever had a better heart than Tom--not one!"

About the time that Tom began to boast about his twins, Sam and Grace
came along with a beautiful little girl, whom they named Mary, after
Mrs. Laning. About a year later the girl was followed by a boy, and
this sturdy little