hearing.

Tom, John, and Mr. Maynard laughed heartily at Eleanor's speech and
manner of getting Polly away from an evident discussion. Mrs. Brewster
and Anne exchanged concerned glances, but Sam Brewster moodily stared
for a few minutes away at Rainbow Cliffs. Then quite suddenly, and to
the great amazement of every one present, he laughed and said, "To think
the new woman has acquired such power that centuries of accepted habit
is set aside and the male has to fall in line _in the rear_. Look at me!
I have been the Great Mogul in this family and in all Oak Creek, too,
until my baby girl begins to talk plainly and then she quietly pushes me
out of my place and steps into it.

"And look at Eleanor Maynard! Talks like an experienced business
potentate of forty--yet she is only fourteen. Oh, I tell you what,
friends, we are living in a strange time!" And Sam Brewster laughed
again, a queer-sounding laugh this. Every one sat still and dreaded to
say a word. In a few moments, he continued:

"Here's a wonderful freak of nature, been standing over there for ages
untold; and I settle down beside those Cliffs because I can see there
will be something in them for my children in days to come. But then,
without warning, my baby grows suddenly up and rears her head, and
declares 'Those Cliffs must furnish me with money to go away from here.
I am of the new order of things, and I must be well prepared to meet my
fate!' So she packs her kit and scampers off to New York to imbibe the
higher education for women.

"Meantime, her poor lonesome father remains behind in Pebbly Pit and
takes charge of the complete blasting of his precious Rainbow Hopes. Ah
well! Ah trust Polly will never regret going to New York with you-all!"

As Sam Brewster sighed and got up to walk away, his wife remarked
quietly: "Any one would think, Sam, that Polly was your very own
personal property. If you could but remember that she has a mother who
loves her devotedly and is silently breaking her heart right now, so
that the child may follow her own life-line without foolish barriers
placed in her pathway!"

Mr. Brewster sent a startled glance at his wife and then hurried away to
the barns. But Mr. Maynard said fervently: "There spoke the true mother,
Mrs. Brewster. That is what we are parents for, I firmly believe--that
we may help the next generation to a higher and firmer foot-hold on
progress. If only there were more mothers like you!"

Then John crept