ell, Mother, it _does_ seem fairer, but I guess it isn't very,--very
_noble_."

"No, son, it isn't. And I hope you'll come to think that sometimes
nobility of action is better than mere justice."

"I see what you mean, Mother, and somehow, talking here with you, it all
seems true enough. But when we get away from you, and off with the boys
and girls, these things seem different. Were you always noble when you
were little, Mother?"

"No, Kingdon dear, I wasn't always. But my mother tried her best to
teach me to be,--so don't you think I ought to try to teach you?"

"Sure, Mothery! And you bet we'll do our bestest to try to learn. Hey,
Mops?"

"Yes, indeedy! I _want_ to do things right, but I seem to forget just
when I ought to remember."

"Well, when you forget, come home and tell Mother all about it, and
we'll take a fresh start. You're pretty fairly, tolerably, moderately
good children after all! Only I want you to grow a little speck better
each day."

"And we _will_!" shouted King and Marjorie together.

CHAPTER V

"THE JOLLY SANDBOY"

The Sand Club was not very strict in its methods or systems. Some days
it met, and some days it didn't. Sometimes all the court was present,
and sometimes only three or four of them.

But everything went on harmoniously, and there were no exhibitions of
ill temper from the Sand Witch.

In fact, Hester was absorbed in doing her part toward the first number
of _The Jolly Sandboy_.

The child was quite an adept at drawing and painting, and she was making
several illustrations for their court journal. One, representing
Marjorie seated on her sand throne, was really clever, and there were
other smaller pictures, too.

Kingdon worked earnestly to get the paper into shape. He had
contributions from all the club, and from Mr. and Mrs. Maynard also. He
had a small typewriter of his own, and he laboriously copied the
contributions on fair, white pages, and, with Hester's pictures
interspersed, bound them all into a neat cover of red paper.

This Hester ornamented with a yellow sand-pail, emblem of their club,
and tied it at the top with a yellow ribbon. Altogether, the first
number of _The Jolly Sandboy_ was a strikingly beautiful affair.

And the court convened, in full court dress, to hear it read.

The court wardrobes had received various additions. Often a courtier
blossomed out in some new regalia, always of red or yellow, or both.

The several mothers of the