lesson isn't going to cut your morning
very short or prevent you from having plenty of time to sail, swim, or
motor. Whether it does or not you've got to endure it. Your summer
holiday is long enough in all conscience. If I had until October with
nothing more arduous to do than put up with an hour's instruction
early each day I should think myself almighty lucky."

"I am lucky, Dad," conceded Dick quickly, "only----"

"Lucky! I should say you were! You don't know what work means. Well,
it was you who wanted this radio outfit. You were all for it and----"

"I am for it still, Dad," interrupted Dick eagerly.

"Then go to it and master it," retorted his father. "If you do not
relish the lessons swallow them down for the sake of the fun you are
going to have later; for if you are intelligent enough to handle your
wireless with some brain and understanding you are going to enjoy it a
hundred per cent. more in the end."

"I know I shall," Dick agreed. "It is only that I am crazy to get at
the thing itself."

The boy's father shook his head.

"You are like all your generation," said he severely. "Eager to leap
the preliminaries and land at the top of the ladder with the first
bound. It is an impatient age and the vice extends to the old as well
as the young. Nobody wants to fit himself for anything nowadays. In my
youth men expected to serve apprenticeships and did not hope to
achieve a position until they had learned how to fill it. But now
everybody leaps at the big job and the big salary that goes with it
and blunders along, taking out his ignorance and lack of experience on
the general public. As for you youngsters, you covet at fifteen
everything that those who are fifty have. You want automobiles, boats,
victrolas and radio telephones before you know how to run them, much
less pay for them. Look at Bob, here. He is worth two of you for he
can earn what he has. Often I tell myself I am a fool to indulge you
and Nancy as I do. I ought by rights to make you do without what you
want until you can foot the bill for it." Mr. Crowninshield took a few
hasty paces across the piazza. "Still," added he, his voice softening,
"I fancy that scheme would be a sight harder on me than on you, for I
like nothing better than to get you what you want."

For a moment he paused, looking fondly at his son. Then as if afraid
of himself he bristled and continued: "But to return to this
wireless--remember that if you do not learn someth