r years in college."

"Don't waste your breath on him, Anne," advised Nora. "He won't tell any
one what he intends to do. I've asked him a hundred times. He knows,
too. He really isn't as foolish as he looks."

"I'm going to try for a position in the Department of Forestry at
Washington after I get through college," announced Tom Gray.

"I'm going into business with my father," declared Reddy.

"I don't know yet what my work will be," said David Nesbit reflectively.

"All you children will be famous one of these days," predicted Mrs. Gray
sagely. She had been listening delightedly to the merry voices of the
young people. To her, as well as to his young friends, Hippy was a
never-failing source of amusement.

"To choose a profession is easier for boys than for girls," declared
Grace. "I haven't the slightest idea what I shall do after my college
days are over. Most boys enter college with their minds made up as to
what their future work is going to be, but very few girls decide until
the last minute."

"Girls whose parents can afford to send them to college don't have to
decide, as a rule," said Nora wisely, "but almost every young man thinks
about it from the first, no matter how much money his father is worth."

"That is true, my dear," nodded Mrs. Gray.

"Yet I am sure my girls as well as my boys will astonish the world some
day. In fact, Anne has already proved her mettle. Nora hopes to become a
great singer, Jessica a pianiste and Grace and Miriam--"

"Are still floundering helplessly, trying to discover their respective
vocations," supplemented Grace.

"Yes, Mrs. Gray," smiled Miriam, "our future careers are shrouded in
mystery."

"Time enough yet," said Mrs. Gray cheerily. "Going to college doesn't
necessitate adopting a profession, you know. Perhaps when your college
days are over you will find your vocation very near home."

"Perhaps," assented Grace doubtfully, "only I'd like to 'do noble deeds,
not dream them all day long,'" she quoted laughingly.

"'And so make life, death and the vast forever
One grand sweet song,'"

finished Anne softly.

"That is what I shall do when I am a brakeman," declared Hippy
confidently.

"You mean you will make life miserable for every one who comes within a
mile of you," jeered Reddy Brooks.

"Reddy, how can you thus ruthlessly belittle my tenderest hope, my
fondest ambitions? What do you know about my future career as a
brakeman? I intend t