people and the children.

The latter were so full of pleasureable excitement that at times they
found no little difficulty in giving proper attention to their studies.
Such was especially the case with Rosie and Lulu, but both Grandma Elsie
and Capt. Raymond were quite firm, though in a kind and gentle way, in
requiring tasks to be well learned before permission was given to lay
them aside for more congenial employment.

Rosie besought her mother very urgently for permission to sit up for an
hour beyond her usual bedtime, in order to make greater progress with
her fancy work for Christmas, but it was not granted.

"No, my dear little daughter," Elsie said, "you need your usual amount
of sleep to keep you in health, and I can not have you deprived of it."

"But, mamma," returned Rosie, a little impatiently, "I'm sure it
couldn't do me any great amount of damage to try it a few times, and I
really think you might allow me to do so."

"My daughter must try to believe that her mother knows best," was the
grave, though gently spoken rejoinder.

"I think it is a little hard, mamma," pouted Rosie; "I'm almost grown up
and it's so pleasant in the parlor where you are all talking
together--especially now that Cousin Ronald is here--that it does seem
too bad to have to run away from it all an hour before you older folks
separate for the night. I'd feel it hard even if I wasn't wanting more
time for my fancy work for Christmas."