"Now some dood fun, papa: toss Vi up in oo arms," said the little one, expecting the usual game of romps.
"Not to-night, pet; some other time. Another sweet kiss for papa, and now one for Uncle Harold."
"After four years of camp, prison, and hospital life, it is a very pleasant change to be among the children," Harold said, as the door closed upon Elsie and her little flock.
"I feared their noise and perpetual motion might disturb you," Mr. Travilla answered.
"Not at all; yours are not boisterous, and their pretty ways are very winning."
Aunt Chloe and Dinah were in waiting, and soon had the three small figures robed each in its white night-dress.
Then mamma—seated upon a sofa with little Violet on her lap, the other two, one on each side—was quite at their disposal for the next half hour or so; ready to listen or to talk; her sweet sympathy and tender love encouraging them to open all their young hearts to her, telling her of any little joy or sorrow, trouble, vexation, or perplexity.
"Well, darlings, have you remembered your verses and our little talk about them this morning?" the mother asked. "Elsie may speak first, because she is the eldest."
"Mamma, I have thought of them many times," answered the sweet child voice; "we had a nice, nice walk with papa this morning, and the little birds, the brook, and the trees, and the pretty flowers and the beautiful blue sky all seemed to say to me, 'God is love.' Then mamma, once I was tempted to be naughty, and I said in my heart, 'Lord, help me,' and Jesus heard me."
"What was it, dear?"