have as good and kind a father as could be found in
all the length and breadth of the land."

"We know it, Mamma Vi; we all think so," cried the children.

But the captain shook his head, saying, "Ah, my dear, flattery is not
good for me. If you continue to dose me with it, who knows but I shall
become as conceited and vain as a peacock?"

"Not a bit of danger of that!" she returned gaily. "But I do not
consider the truth flattery."

"Suppose we change the subject," he said with a good-humored smile. "We
have been making out lists of Christmas gifts and would like to have
your opinion and advice in regard to some of them."

"You shall have them for what they are worth," she returned, taking the
slips of paper Max handed her, and glancing over them.

CHAPTER IV.

The parlor at Ion, full of light and warmth, looked very pleasant and
inviting this evening. The whole family--not so large now as it had been
before Capt. Raymond took his wife and children to a home of their
own--were gathered there;--Mr. Dinsmore and his wife--generally called
Grandma Rose by the children--Grandma Elsie, her son Edward and his
wife, Zoe, and the two younger children;--Rosie and Walter.

The ladies and Rosie were all knitting or crocheting. Mr. Dinsmore and
Edward were playing chess, and Walter was deep in a story book.

"Zoe," said Rosie, breaking a pause in the conversation, "do you know,
has mamma told you, about her new plans for benevolence? how she is
going to let us all help her in distributing her funds?"

"Us?" echoed Zoe inquiringly.

"Yes; all her children; and that includes you of course."

"Most assuredly it does," said Grandma Elsie, smiling tenderly upon her
young daughter-in-law.

Zoe's eyes sparkled. "Thank you, mamma," she said with feeling. "I
should be very sorry to be left out of the number; I am very proud of
belonging there.

"But what about the new plans, Rosie? if mamma is willing you should
tell me now what they are."

"Quite willing," responded mamma, and Rosie went on.

"You know mamma always gives thousands of dollars every year to home and
foreign missions, and other good causes, and she says that this time she
will let each of us choose a cause for her to give a thousand to."

"I like that!" exclaimed Zoe. "Many thanks, mamma, for my share of the
privilege. I shall choose to have my thousand go to help the mission
schools in Utah. I feel so sorry for those poor Mormon women. The idea