e to me in my boyhood."

"I think you must have forgotten how long I have been away, papa," laughed
Max as they finished the circuit of the rooms on that floor, "for I have
come upon a good many new things."

"Ah! well, they have been added so gradually that I did not realize how
numerous they were," returned his father, adding, "Now you may as well go
on to the upper rooms and tarry long enough in your own to make yourself
neat for the tea table."

"Yes, sir;" and the lad hurried up the stairs, the captain, Lulu, and
Grace following.

"Hurrah!" he cried joyously as he reached the open door of his own room,
"why, this is lovely! prettier than ever, and it was like a room in a
palace before compared to the one I share with Hunt at the Academy."

"Suppose you walk in and take a nearer view," said his father, and Max
obeyed with alacrity, the others following.

"Mamma and papa said there was nothing too good for you, and so we all
thought, Maxie," said Grace, Lulu adding, "Indeed we do all think so."

"Indeed, I'm afraid it is," returned Max, gazing admiringly at the
beautiful carpet, the lace curtains looped back with wreaths of flowers,
the fine engravings on the walls, the easy chairs, tasteful mantel
ornaments, and the many other articles of adornment and convenience.

"Your mamma and I have made some changes, improvements, as we thought,"
the captain said in gratified and affectionate tones, "hoping you would be
pleased with then; and I rather think you are."

"Pleased, papa? I'm delighted!" cried Max. "The only drawback to my
pleasure is the thought of the very short time I can stay to enjoy all
this beauty and luxury."

"Yet I am sure my boy does not want to settle down here to a life of
inglorious ease," remarked the captain in a tone of mingled assertion and
enquiry. "I rejoice in the firm conviction that his great desire is to
serve God and his country to the best of his ability."

"Yes, father, it is," said Max earnestly. "But," he added with a smile,
"if you don't want me to love to be with you in this sweet home you should
not make it so attractive and be so very kind and affectionate to me."

"My boy," the captain said with emotion and laying a hand affectionately
on his son's shoulder, "there is never a day when I do not thank my
heavenly Father for his gift to me of so good and dutiful a son."

"I don't know how any fellow could help being dutiful and affectionate to
such a father as mine, sir