“No, sir,” they answered simultaneously, Lulu adding, “I practiced a whole hour by the clock, just as you and Mr. Morgan told me to, and Gracie played with baby while I was doing that; then we both came in here to sit and talk.”
“That was right. I expect and hope to see you improving very fast under Mr. Morgan’s instruction; and after all it isn’t so very bad to have to take lessons of a man, is it?”
“Not with you there, papa; but it would be without you.”
“I have something to tell you,” he said; “the little Joneses had their drive to-day; in a spring wagon which I hired for the purpose. I sent one of the servants over to sit with the mother, so that all the children could go; and I think they enjoyed it greatly and are obliged to my two little girls for giving them the treat.”
“Oh, I’m glad we did!” exclaimed Grace; “it’s better than getting a present or buying something for ourselves, to know those poor children have had a good time.”
“I think so too,” assented Lulu.
“Yes,” said their father, “there is no better plan for making money contribute to our own happiness than using it for others, especially the benefit of the poor and needy.”
“’Cept giving it to the heathen, papa?” Grace said, half inquiringly.
“Surely, to be destitute of the knowledge of Jesus and his salvation is to be very poor and needy, my little daughter,” he replied.
“Yes; so it is,” she said thoughtfully. “Papa, I wish every body in the whole world knew about him and loved him.”