countenance to the
contrary notwithstanding. Besides, Leggatt has always a good word to
say for him, and evidently still keeps an eye on him, notwithstanding
that Fred has ceased to kick foot-ball and limps no longer. To be
sure, I have been beguiled once or twice by the dear boy's assurance
that I would make my fortune, if I would follow his advice, into buying
investment securities the market price of which at present is far less
than I paid for them. However, the financial misinformation imparted
by one's own flesh and blood is more easily forgiven than that which
emanates from one's regular broker. Besides, there is the chance that
the stocks will come up again some day or other. Fred says they are
sure to. Everything considered he was, and indeed he still is, doing
remarkably well, and he is such an honest-looking, manly fellow that
Josephine says she wonders all the girls do not fall in love with him.
His present safety seems to lie in the fact that he is in love with all
the girls and not with any particular one, a condition of affairs which
I trust will last until he is properly able to support a wife. I
remember that before I fell in love with Josephine--well, no matter. I
have almost forgotten their names and should have to ask my darling to
tell me who they were, and all about it. I have never really loved
anybody but her. God bless her.

Then there was David--again I must admit there still _is_ David--whose
rapid success in his adopted profession and whose general steadiness of
character have been a source of perpetual gladness to us. He still
causes his mother some concern by his utter disinclination for the
society of young women, but I know of no other fault with which to
reproach him. His bacillic pets no longer have a domicile under the
paternal roof. He has a laboratory of his own downtown where,
doubtless, they thrive and multiply. But his special interest at
present is electricity. This has already brought him reputation and
money by virtue of an appliance in the storage battery line, the
details of which I do not precisely understand. Although Little Fred
shook his head gravely at the mention of the word "patent," I was
imprudent enough to follow my scientific son's lead to the tune of
several thousand dollars, the happy consequence of which seemed to be
that Josephine and I would be able to have our jaunt to Japan whenever
the spirit moved us. That was before I counted the cost of