But the wife was doubtful.

She said: "Would you send all of the baskets ?" "Oh, yes, all." "All at once ?" "To his father?
Oh, no--by no means.

Think of the shock.

No--one at a time; break it to him by degrees." "Would that have that effect, father ?" "Yes, my daughter.

Remember, you are young and elastic, but he is old.
To send him the whole at once might well be more than he could bear.
But mitigated--one basket at a time, with restful intervals between, he would be used to it by the time he got all of him.