"Sometimes it was his papa who did it, I think," said Elsie.

"Oh, yes!" said Ned. "Papa, why don't you do such things for us
sometimes?"

"Really, my son, I do not seem to have any talent in that line,"
returned the captain with a smile. "Your brother Max has, however, and
I hope that, some of these days, he will come home and make the fun for
you that you are so eager for."

"Oh, I'll be so glad! And will he teach me how to do it, too?"

"I hardly think he can," his father answered, with an amused look; "at
least, not till you are a good deal older than you are now."

"Well, I'm getting older every day; mamma tells me so when she wants me
to behave like a little gentleman."

"Which is always, Neddie boy," Violet said, with an amused look.

"Yes, my son, both mamma and papa want their little boy to be always a
little gentleman--kind, courteous, and thoughtful for others," the
captain said, softly patting the little hand laid confidingly on his
knee.

"Lu, do you know if Rosie sent off those important letters this
morning?" asked Violet.

"Yes, she told me she did; also that she had learned from Cousin Mary
that Cousin Arthur had written a warm invitation from himself and his