ours; papa is worried, and we are all, every one of us, ready to
help him!"

"Why my dear girls!" cried mama, with her eyes full of tears. "How did
you know?"

"Olive saw, and then heard the other night," cried Kittie excitedly.
"She's got thirty dollars already, and was giving us a regular lecture
just before supper. Now I'm going to----"

"Wait a minute, dear," said mama, laughing as she shook her finger. "I
knew Olive was saving her allowance, and that she had earned some money,
and I was very much pleased; but I am more than happy to find that she
was doing it for papa."

To every one's surprise, Olive grew scarlet and turned her face clear
away from the light; but she brought it back in a minute, and said, with
lips that tried to be stiff and firm--for praise was dear to Olive--"I
didn't do it for papa--I didn't know then--I----" and then, sooner than
cry, Olive stopped, and left them to think what they would.

"But you are willing for it to go to papa now," finished Mrs. Dering,
smiling brightly, and bringing some of the cloud from Olive's eyes.
"That is just as noble, dear," and with these skillfully thrown in
words, mother smiled again, for only she understood her daughter's
peculiar disposition.

"When I was a girl," went on Mrs. Dering, "Grandpa was very wealthy, you
know, and of course gave me every advantage. I took music from the most
distinguished professors, also painting and the languages, and at the
age of eighteen, was handed over to society as finished in every way. I
loved the gayeties that surrounded me, just as well as ever a girl
could, but after a while, it struck me as being such an idle, aimless
life, for a well educated, sensible girl to live, so I determined to
make use of all that I had received. I had a small class in music, and
one in painting and drawing; some of them paid, and some, members of my
Sunday-school class, did not. After that, I felt so much happier and
more contented, and enjoyed all my fun so much more, so I decided that
if ever I had any daughters, they should be fitted to be independent,
whether it was ever necessary or not. I have never been able to supply
you with masters as I was, but I have taught you thoroughly myself, and
while I did not intend that you should begin quite so early, the time
has come suddenly, when we must all help. So you, my older girls, I want
you to choose as your choice lies, and fit yourselves so as to make it
your stand-by, in this and