very word of praise was
read aloud on the housetops, so to speak, by happy Rose; every adverse
criticism was hotly disputed; and the whole family was in a great state
of pleasant excitement over this unexpectedly successful first flight of
the Ugly Duckling, now generally considered by his relatives as the most
promising young swan of the flock.

Aunt Jane was particularly funny in her new position of mother to a
callow poet and conducted herself like a proud but bewildered hen when
one of her brood takes to the water. She pored over the poems, trying
to appreciate them but quite failing to do so, for life was all prose to
her, and she vainly tried to discover where Mac got his talent from. It
was pretty to see the new respect with which she treated his possessions
now; the old books were dusted with a sort of reverence; scraps of paper
were laid carefully by lest some immortal verse be lost; and a certain
shabby velvet jacket fondly smoothed when no one was by to smile at
the maternal pride with filled her heart and caused her once severe
countenance to shine with unwonted benignity.

Uncle Mac talked about "my son" with ill-concealed satisfaction, and
evidently began to feel as if his boy was going to confer distinction
upon the whole race of Campbell, which had already possessed one poet.
Steve exulted with irrepressible delight and went about quoting Songs
and Sonnets till he bored his friends dreadfully by his fraternal
raptures.

Archie took it more quietly, and even suggested that it was too soon to
crow yet, for the dear old fellow's first burst might be his last, since
it was impossible to predict what he would do next. Having proved that
he could write poetry, he might drop it for some new world to conquer,
quoting his favorite Thoreau, who, having made a perfect pencil, gave
up the business and took to writing books with the sort of indelible ink
which grows clearer with time.

The aunts of course had their "views," and enjoyed much prophetic gossip
as they wagged their caps over many social cups of tea. The younger boys
thought it "very jolly," and hoped the Don would "go ahead and come
to glory as soon as possible," which was all that could by expected of
"Young America," with whom poetry is not usually a passion.

But Dr. Alec was a sight for "sair een," so full of concentrated
contentment was he. No one but Rose, perhaps, knew how proud and pleased
the good man felt at this first small success of his