"Please, may I sit on your knee while I listen ?" "Indeed you may," he answered, drawing her to the coveted seat and putting his arm about her waist.

"Maxie does write such good, interesting letters, and I'm so much obliged to you for reading this one to me, papa," she said, when he had finished.
"You are very welcome, daughter; and now you may go back to your mates while I write my reply." On the veranda family letters had been read and discussed, meanwhile, and when Lulu joined the group they were again talking of the approaching Christmas and what gifts should be prepared for relatives, near and dear friends, and servants.
Grandma Elsie, seated in their midst, was looking quite her old self--very bright, beautiful, and sweet.
"With the housekeeping given in charge to Vi," she was saying, as Lulu drew near, "I shall have abundance of spare time and hope to prepare many gifts for----" "No," interrupted her father, "you are to do nothing of the kind; but must devote yourself to the business of gaining strength as fast as possible." She laughed pleasantly at that, saying, "My vacation has been a long one already, papa, for I have really done nothing worth speaking of since we returned home from the North." "And what of that, daughter ?" he responded.

"You have never been an idler, but it seems to be time now for you to begin.

Let your vacation go on till next spring.

That is my prescription for you." "Ah, ha, mamma!" laughed Rosie, "the captain forbids Christmas-gift making for us younger ones, and I'm mighty glad grandpa forbids it to you.