girl is improving," her father said, softly smoothing her hair with his hand, "and I'm sure--for the Bible tells us so-that if you fight on, looking to God for help, you will come off conqueror and more than conqueror in the end.”

"Yes, papa; oh, I am so glad the Bible says that!"

There was a moment's silence; then Grace said, with a sigh and a voice full of tears, Oh, I do so wish I could see Maxie before we go so far away from him!

Papa, wouldn't they let him come home for just a little while?"

"No, daughter; but how would you like to go with Lulu and me to pay him a little visit?"

"O papa! so much if-if you think I won't be too tired to go on to Viamede so soon afterward."

"I really think you could stand the two journeys, coming so near together, now that you are so much stronger than you used to be; and as you can lie and rest in the cars, and we go by water from New Orleans. Don't you feel as if you could ?"

“Oh, yes, papa, I feel almost sure I could!" she cried joyously,

"Then we will try it," he said, fondling her; "you will have no packing to do-I am sure Mamma Vi and Lulu will be pleased to attend to all that for you-and the journey to Annapolis is not a very long or fatiguing one. So,

should nothing happen to prevent, you shall make one of our little party to visit Max."

Grace's eyes shone with pleasure and Lulu exclaimed delightedly, "Oh, I am so glad, Gracie! It will double my pleasure to have you along; and you needn't worry one bit about your packing of clothes or playthings, for I'm sure I can see to it all with Christine or Alma to help me; or even if I should have to do it all myself.”

"Oh, thank you, Lu!" exclaimed Grace, “you are just the very best sister that ever I saw ! Isn't she, papa?"

"I think her a very good and kind sister, and it makes me a proud and happy father to be able to give her that commendation," he answered, with a loving look down into the eyes of his eldest daughter.

Just then Violet re-entered the room and a merry, happy hour followed, while plans and prospects were under discussion.

"Won't you excuse Gracie and me from lessons the rest of the time before we start for Viamede, papa? asked Lulu coaxingly.

"No, daughter," replied the captain, in a pleasant tone; "there is very little either of you will be called upon to do in regard to the preparations for our southward flitting, so no occasion for you to miss lessons for so many days. Of course you cannot study on the boats and cars, at least I shall not ask it of you, and

when we get to Viamede you will be glad of a little holiday to rest and run about, seeing everything that is to be seen; and all that will cause quite sufficient loss of time from your les

sons."

"Oh, dear," sighed Lulu, "I think it must be ever so nice to be grown up and not have any lessons to learn."

"Ah, Lu," laughed Violet, "I am not so sure that grown up folks have no lessons to learn; in fact I begin to have an idea that their lessons are not seldom more trying and wearisome than those of the children."

66

Yes, Mamma Vi," responded Lulu, with a blush," and I'm sorry and ashamed of my grumbling. Papa, I'm just determined I will be good and do cheerfully whatever you bid me; I have always, always found your way the very best in the end."

"Why, yes, Lu; of course papa always knows far better than we do what is best for us," said Grace, leaning lovingly up against him and smiling up into his face.

"Papa is very happy in having such loving, trustful little daughters," he said, passing his hand caressingly over Gracie's golden curls.

CHAPTER XVI.

Ir was a most joyful surprise to Max when, on the following Saturday, his father and sisters walked in upon him, as he left the dinner table full of life and pleasure at the thought of the half holiday that had just begun.

His standing and conduct had been such that he was entitled to leave, and to be able to spend it with these dear ones was most delightful.

A carriage had brought the captain and his little girls to the door, and they-father and children-took a long drive together, during which the tongues of Max and Lulu ran very fast.

She and Gracie thoroughly enjoyed Max's surprise on learning of the plans for the winter, so soon to be carried out.

At first he seemed to feel rather badly at the thought that they would all be so far away from him; but he presently got over that, as his father spoke of the letters he would receive from Viamede every day, and how quickly the winter would pass and all be coming home again, some of them-certainly himself-making haste to pay a visit to the Academy to see

their young cadet and learn what progress.
he was making in preparing for future duty
in the naval service of his country.

At that Max's face brightened and he said
heartily, " And I shall try my best to have as
good a report as possible ready for you, papa,
that you may be proud and happy in your first-
born son. Ah, the thought of that does help
me to study hard and try very, very earnestly
to keep rules, so that I may be an honor, and
not a disgrace to the best of fathers."

"Yes, I am sure of it, my dear boy," the captain replied, laying his hand on the lad's shoulder, while the light of fatherly love and pride shone in his eyes; "I haven't a doubt that it is one of my son's greatest pleasures to make himself the joy and pride of his father's heart."

They drove back to the Academy just in time for Max to be ready to report himself at evening roll-call, according to the rules, with which no one was better acquainted than the captain.

He and the little girls were to start on their
return journey that evening, and good-by was
said at the Academy door.

A very
hard one it seemed to the little girls,
hardly less so to Max and his father. The cap-
tain and his daughters went by boat, as less fa-
tiguing for Grace, and reached home on Monday.

The next day was a busy one to all, and