and digested thoroughly whatever they had read, so that they
possessed a good deal of general knowledge. The girls were bright,
sensible, industrious little women, who tried to be good, too, in the
old-fashioned sense of the word; and full of fun, nonsense, and
chatter as they were among themselves, they never forgot to be modest
and unassuming.

The boys were pretty well in earnest about life, too, with good
ambitions and generous aspirations. They had all been studying with
Dr. Winship for nearly two years; and that means a great deal, for he
was a real teacher, entering into the lives of his pupils,
sympathising with them in every way, and leading them, through the
study of nature, of human beings, and of God, to see the beauty and
meaning of life.

Geoffrey Strong, of course, was older than the rest, having completed
his junior year at college; but Dr. Winship, who was his guardian,
thought it wiser for him to rest a year and come to him in
California, as his ambition and energy had already led him into
greater exertions than his age or strength warranted. He was now
studying medicine with the good Doctor, but would go back to the
'land of perpetual pie' in the fall and complete his college course.

A splendid fellow he was,--so earnest, thoughtful, and wise; so
gravely tender in all his ways to Aunt Truth, who was the only mother
he had ever known; so devoted to Dr. Winship, who loved him as his
own elder son.

What will Geoffrey Strong be as a man? The twig is bent, and it is
safe to predict how the tree will incline. His word will be as good