"Papa, I'm thinking how he'll miss the pleasant evenings at home--the
good talks with you," sobbed the little girl.

"Yes, darling, but I will tell you what we will do to partly, at least,
make up that loss to our dear boy."

"What, papa?" she asked, lifting her head and looking up into his face,
with her own brightening a little.

"Suppose we each keep a journal or diary, telling everything that goes
on each day at home, and now and then send them to Maxie; so that he
will know all that we are doing?"

"Oh, what a good thought, papa!" exclaimed Lulu, giving him a vigorous
hug and kiss. "And Maxie will write us nice, interesting letters; and
some day he'll come home for a visit and have ever so much to tell us."

"Yes," her father said, "and I think we will have interesting letters
from him in the meantime."

"And perhaps I'll learn to like writing letters, when it's just to
please Maxie and comfort him," said Grace, wiping away her tears and
trying to smile.

"I hope so, darling," her father replied, bestowing another kiss upon
the sweet little tear-stained face. "But now, my dears," he added, "put
on your hats; it is time to go back to the _Dolphin_."

They hastened to obey, and he led them to the parlor, where they found