though it was unkind, and that their friends have a right to hate me for
it."

"No, not at all. It was a duty you owed the community (because to allow
criminals to go unpunished would make honest people unsafe), and indeed
to the men themselves; as being brought to justice may prove the means
of their reformation. So set your mind at rest about it, my darling; try
to forget the whole unpleasant affair, and be happy in the enjoyment of
your many blessings."

"There's one thing that helps to make my conscience perfectly easy on
the score of having testified against them," remarked Max, "and that is
I couldn't help myself, but had to obey the law."

"True enough," rejoined his father. "And Lulu was no more a free agent
than yourself."

"No, sir; but she did more to catch the rogues than anybody else," Max
went on, giving her a merry, laughing glance. "Don't you wish, sis, that
you had let them go on and help themselves to all they wanted, and then
leave without being molested?"

"No, I don't," she answered with spirit. "I wouldn't want papa to lose
his money, or Mamma Vi her jewels. Beside they might have gone upstairs
and hurt some of us."

"We are all much obliged to you, Lulu dear," Violet remarked, looking
affectionately at the little girl. "How brave and unselfish you were!
That burglary following so immediately upon the festivities of our
delightful Christmas holidays, seemed a most trying and unfortunate
afterclap; but we will hope for better things next time."

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRISTMAS WITH GRANDMA ELSIE***

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