happy they all were when the invalid took his first walk
out-of-doors, leaning on Frank, and stopping many times to rest. The
air was heavy with the scent of myriads of flowers, and the very birds
seemed glad to see him, and sang their loudest and sweetest to welcome
him.

After this he improved in strength rapidly, and was soon able to ride
as far as the mill, and to float on the river in the canoe, with Frank
to paddle it; but still his parents were very anxious about him. He was
not their merry, light-hearted Mark of old. He never laughed now, but
seemed always to be oppressed with some great dread. His white face
wore a frightened look, and he would sit for hours with his mother as
she sewed, saying little, but gazing wistfully at her, as though
fearful that in some way he might lose her or be taken from her.

All this troubled his parents greatly, and many a consultation did they
have as to what they should do for their boy. They decided that he
needed an entire change of scene and occupation, but just how to obtain
these for him they could not plan.

One day Mrs. Elmer sat down and wrote a long letter to her uncle,
Christopher Bangs, telling him of their trouble, and asking him what
they should do. To this letter came the following answer:

"BANGOR, MAINE, May 5, 188-.

"DEAR NIECE ELLEN,--You did exactly the right thing, as you always do,
in writing to me about Grandneph. Mark. Of course he needs a change of
scene after spending a whole night hundreds of feet underground,
fighting alligators, and naturally having a fever afterwards. Who
wouldn't? I would myself. A good thing's good for a while, but there is
such a thing as having too much of a good thing, no matter how good it
is, and I rather guess Grandneph. Mark has had too much of Floridy, and
it'll do him good to leave it for a while. So just you bundle him up
and send him along to me for a change. Tell him his old Grandunk
Christmas has got some important business for him to look after, and
can't possibly get on without him more than a week or two longer. I
shall expect a letter by return mail saying he has started.

"Give Grandunk Christmas's love to Grandniece Ruth, and with respects
to your husband, believe me to be, most truly, as ever,

Your affectionate uncle,

"CHRISTOPHER BANGS."

"P.S.--Don't mind the expense. Send the boy C.O.D. I'll settle all
bills. C.B."

In the same mail with this letter came another from Maine, directed to
"