Christmas with Grandma Elsie | Page 8

that pleasure," the captain answered with a

kindly look and tone, and she eagerly availed herself of the permission.
Max was greatly pleased, and Violet, who joined them just in time to
hear what Lulu was saying, highly approved.
"But you will understand, children," the captain said, "that this involves
your gaining a great deal of information on the subject of missions, and
other schemes of benevolence, and in order to help you in that, we will
spend a short time each evening, when not prevented by company or
some more important engagement, in reading and conversing on this
topic."
"I wish I could earn some money to give," said Lulu. "I'd like to carve
pretty things to sell; but who would buy them?"
"Possibly papa might become an occasional purchaser," her father said,
stroking her hair and smiling kindly upon her.
"Or Mamma Vi," added her young step-mother.
"And I have another offer to make you both," said the captain; "for
every day that I find you obedient, pleasant-tempered and industrious I
will give each of you twenty-five cents for benevolent purposes."
"Thank you, papa," they both said, their eyes sparkling with pleasure;
Max adding, "That will be a dollar and seventy-five cents a week."
"Yes; and for every week that either one of you earns the quarter every
day, I will add another to bring it up to two dollars."
"O papa, how nice!" exclaimed Lulu. "I mean to try very hard, so that I
may have enough to support a little Indian girl. And is Gracie to have
the same?"
"Certainly; and I shall not be greatly surprised if Gracie's missionary
box fills faster than either of the others."
"I am almost sure it will," said Lulu, sobering down a good deal; "and
Max's will be next. But I do mean to try ever so hard to be good."

"I am quite sure you do, dear child," her father responded in tender
tones. "I know my little girl wants to improve, and I shall do all I can to
help her."
"Papa, is that quarter a day for good conduct, to be in addition to our
usual pocket money?" asked Max.
"Certainly, my son; your pocket money is your own, to use for your
pleasure or profit, except what you feel that you ought, or desire to give
of it; but the quarter is expressly, and only for benevolent purposes."
"When may we begin to earn it, papa?"
"To-morrow."
"I'm glad of that," said Lulu with satisfaction, "because I want to earn a
good deal before Christmas."
Then she told of Evelyn's suggestions in regard to gifts for the poor in
their immediate neighborhood.
"A very good idea," her father said, "and I think it may be carried out in
a way to yield enjoyment to both givers and receivers."
"I hope it will be cold enough at Christmas time to make ice and snow
for sleighing and sledding," Max remarked; "for we boys have planned
to have a good deal of fun for ourselves and the girls too, if it is."
"You mean if there is sleighing and sledding," his father said with an
amused look. "It might be cold enough, yet the needed snow or ice be
lacking."
"Why, yes, sir, to be sure, so it might!" Max returned, laughing good
humoredly.
"What kind of fun is it you boys have planned for us girls?" asked Lulu.
"Never you mind," said Max; "you'll see when the time comes; the
surprise will be half of it you know."

"My dear, you seem to me a very wise and kind father," Violet
remarked to her husband when they found themselves alone together,
after Max and Lulu had gone to their beds. "I very highly approve of
the plans you have just proposed for them. Though, of course the
approval of a silly young thing, such as I, must be a matter of small
consequence," she added, with a merry, laughing look up into his face.
"Young, but not silly," he returned, with a very lover-like look and
smile. "I consider my wife's judgment worth a great deal, and am
highly gratified with her approval. I am extremely desirous," he went
on more gravely, "to train my darlings to systematic benevolence, a
willingness to deny themselves for the cause of Christ, and to take an
interest in every branch of the work of the church."

CHAPTER III.
Lulu's first thought on awaking the next morning, was of the talk of the
previous evening, with her father. He had said she might have the
pleasure of telling Gracie the good news in regard to the money to be
earned by good conduct, and that which was to be given by him in the
name of each of his older children; also