the shorter should be the ways to the goal. I am more and more convinced
that my advice is right. If you give your little daughters into the
hands of a clever dressmaker, your moving to the city will have been
of some real use."

In his great zeal to convince his silent listener, the visitor had not
noticed that a small boy had entered. This little fellow had at first
hidden behind his mother, but, at a sign from her, approached the
gentleman. He noticed the child only when a small fist pushed itself
forcibly into his closed right hand.

"Please forgive the rather aggressive greeting of my small son," begged
the mother.

"Oh, here is another, still. I knew there was a smaller one," exclaimed
the dismayed visitor. "Well, boy, what is your name?"

"Mux," was the reply.

The gentleman looked questioningly at the mother.

"That is the name his brother and sisters have given him and the one
which seems to have remained quite permanently," she replied. "His
name is really Marcus and he is just five years old."

"Well, well, and what do you want to be when you grow up, my young
friend?" asked Mr. Schaller.

"An army general," unhesitatingly replied the small boy. After these
words the gentleman got up.