at consist of?"

"A rope's end."

"Oh, then, you are an advocate for the birch, are you?" said Wolston;
"it is, doubtless, a very good thing when moderately and judiciously
administered. That puts me in mind of the missionary and the king of
the Kuruman negroes."

"A tribe of Southern Africa, is it not?"

"Yes, the missionary and the king were great friends. The king not
only permitted him to baptize his subjects, but offered to whip them
all into Christianity in a week. This summary mode of proselytism did
not, however, coincide with the Englishman's ideas, and he refused the
offer, although the king insisted that it was the only kind of
argument that could ever reach their understandings."

The day at length drew to a close, and, though no one asked the time
yet all felt that the moment of departure was approaching; whether
they were willing to go was doubtful, but at they were loth to depart
was certain.

"It is time to return now," said Becker, rising.

"Already!"

"There are some clouds in the distance that bode no good."

"Nothing more than a little rain at worst," said Jack.

"And your mother?" inquired Decker.

"Oh! we can make a palanquin for her."

"Your plan, Jack, is not particularly bright; it puts me in mind of
some genius or other that took shelter in the water to keep out of the
wet."

"Very odd," said Jack, "we are always wishing for rain, and when it
comes, we do all we can to keep out of its way."

"That is, because we are neither green pease nor gooseberries," said
Ernest, drily.

"True, brother; and as the rain is your affair, perhaps you will be
good enough to delay it for an hour or so."

"I am sorry on my own account, as well as yours, that I have not yet
discovered the art of controlling the skies."

Here Fritz whispered a few words in his mother's ear, that called up
one of those ineffable smiles that the maternal heart alone can
produce.

"Well," said Mrs. Becker, "if you think so, deliver the message
yourself."

"Mrs. Wolston," said Fritz, "I am charged to invite you and your
family to Falcon's Nest this day week."

"The invitation is accepted, unless my daughters have any objections
to urge."

"How can you fancy such a thing, mamma?" said both girls.

"The fact is, that my daughters have got such a dread of cold water,
that they dread to wet the soles of their shoes, unless one or other
of you gentlemen is within hail."

"Mamma does so love to tease us," said