Christmas with Grandma Elsie | Page 2

and give our invitation."
The reply from the village was satisfactory; also that from Ion, given
by Grandpa Dinsmore, who said he would venture to accept the
invitation for all the family without waiting to consult them.
The captain reported to Violet, then passed on into the apartments of
his little daughters. He found them up and dressed, standing at the
window of their sitting-room gazing out into the grounds.
"Good morning, my darlings," he said.
"Oh good morning, papa," they cried, turning and running into his
outstretched arms to give and receive tenderest caresses.
"What were you looking at?" he asked presently.
"Oh! oh! the loveliest sight!" cried Lulu. "Do, papa, come and look,"
taking his hand and drawing him toward the window. "There, isn't it?"
"Yes; I have seldom seen a finer," he assented.
"And the sun is shining so brightly; can't I take a walk with you
to-day?" she asked, looking coaxingly up into his face.
"Why, my child, the walks and roads are sheeted with ice; you could
not stand, much less walk on them."
"I think I could, papa, if--if you'd only let me try. But oh don't look
troubled, for indeed, indeed, I'm not going to be naughty about it,
though I have been shut up in the house for so long, except just riding
in the close carriage to church yesterday."
"Yes; and I know it has been hard for you," he said, smoothing her hair
with caressing hand.
Then sitting down he drew her to one knee, Gracie to the other.

"How would my little girls like to be excused from lessons to-day and
given, instead, a sleigh-ride with papa, mamma, Max and little Elsie?"
"Oh ever so much, papa!" they cried, clapping their hands in delight.
"How good in you to think of it!"
"'Specially for me, considering how very, very naughty I was only last
week," added Lulu, in a remorseful tone. "Papa, I really think I oughtn't
to be let go."
"And I really think I should not be deprived of the pleasure of having
my dear eldest daughter with me on this first sleigh-ride of the season,"
returned her father, drawing her into a closer embrace.
"And it would spoil all the fun for me to have you left at home, Lu,"
said Grace.
"And that must not be; we will all go, and I trust will have a very
pleasant time," the captain said, rising and taking a hand of each to lead
them down to the breakfast-room, for the bell was ringing.
At Ion the family were gathering about the table to partake of their
morning meal. Walter waited rather impatiently till the blessing had
been asked, then, with an entreating look at his mother, said, "Mamma,
you know what you promised?"
"Yes, my son; but be patient a little longer. I see your grandpa has
something to say."
"Something that Walter will be glad to hear, I make no doubt,"
remarked Mr. Dinsmore, giving the child a kindly look and smile.
"Capt. Raymond and I have had a little chat through the telephone this
morning. He invites us all to join the Woodburn family in a sleigh-ride,
he is coming for us in an omnibus sleigh; and I accepted for each and
every one of you."
Zoe, Rosie and Walter uttered a simultaneous exclamation of delight,
while the others looked well pleased with the arrangement.

"At what hour are we to expect the captain?" asked Mrs. Dinsmore.
"About ten."
"And where does he propose to take us?" inquired Zoe.
"I presume wherever the ladies of the party decide that they would like
to go."
"Surely, papa, the gentlemen also should have a voice in that," his
daughter said, sending him a bright, affectionate look from behind the
coffee-urn, "you at least, in case the question is put to vote."
"Not I more than the rest of you," he returned pleasantly. "But I have
no doubt we would all enjoy the ride in any direction where the
sleighing is good."
"I think it will prove fine on all the roads," remarked Edward, "and I
presume everybody, would enjoy driving over to Fairview, the Laurels
and the Oaks to call on our nearest relatives; perhaps to the Pines and
Roselands also, to see the cousins there."
"That would be nice," said Zoe, "but don't you suppose they may be
improving the sleighing opportunity as well as ourselves? may be
driving over here to call on us?"
"Then, when we meet, the question will be who shall turn round and go
back, and who keep on," laughed Rosie.
"But to avoid such an unpleasant state of affairs we have only to ask
and, answer a few questions through the telephone," said Edward.
"Certainly," said his grandfather, "and we'll attend to