“MOTHER dear,” Harold said, as he kissed her good-night on that first
evening at home after their return from Princeton, “Herbert and I are
decidedly hungry for one of the good old talks with you; but you are
too weary to-night. May we come to you early in the morning for the
dear old half-hour of Bible study and private talk before breakfast?”
“I shall be very glad to have you do so, my dear boys,” she replied,
regarding them with eyes beaming with mother love and pride. “I have
been looking forward with longing for the confidential talks with my
boys which have always been so sweet to me; especially in regard to
your plans for future usefulness as workers in the Master’s vineyard.”
“Yes, mamma, that is one of the principal matters about which we wish
to consult you—our best, dearest, wisest earthly friend,” said Herbert,
lifting her hand to his lips; “for who so wise, so loving, or so
desirous to help each of us to use time and talents in a way to make
them most helpful in the Master’s service?”
“I cannot lay claim to any great amount of wisdom, my dear boys,” Mrs.
Travilla returned with a smile, “but am certain no one can love you
better or feel a greater desire than I to see you earnest, efficient
workers for Christ. I want very much to talk over with you your plans
for the future, and think there could be no better time for doing
so than that early morning hour when we shall be more secure from
interruption than at almost any other. Now good-night, and may you rest
sweetly and peacefully on this first night at home after your long
absence.”
“May you also, dear mother, precious little mother,” said Harold,
passing an arm about her waist, and smiling down with ardent affection
into her still fair, sweet face. “I remember that I used to look up at
your beautiful face, regarding you as a protector, but I feel that now
I am yours—old enough and strong enough to defend you should any be so
base as to attempt to do you harm.”
“Ah, my dear boy, fortunately no one has, I think, any such desire,”
she said, returning his smile; “yet it is very pleasant to feel that
I have so many strong young arms to support and shield me. ’Twas very
pleasant in former years to be the protector of my little ones, and it
is not less pleasant now to find them so ready to return my love and
care. But now go to your beds, for you need rest and sleep to keep you
in condition for the arduous duty of which we have just been speaking,”
she added with playful look and tone.
“How early can we come without disturbing you, mother mine?” asked
Herbert, snatching another kiss as Harold released her from his arms.
“At seven, if that is not too early,” she replied. “Rosie and Walter
are usually with me about half-past seven, and the breakfast-hour is
eight.”
They were at her dressing-room door the next morning exactly at the
hour named, and found her ready to receive them. A pleasant chat
followed, the lads telling her freely of their plans and desires in
regard to their life-work; for diligent workers they intended to be.
Harold still clung to his early choice of the medical profession, and
Herbert, as devotedly attached to him as ever, and thinking he would
not prefer any other employment, had decided to study medicine also
unless his mother should, disapprove.
“No,” she said when he asked the question, “I shall be glad to have
you together; so unless you, Herbert, have a stronger inclination for
some other employment I shall be more than satisfied to see you a
physician; always provided you are a good one,” she added playfully.
“Is it your wish, my sons, to return shortly to Philadelphia and pursue
your medical studies there?”
“Not immediately, mother,” Harold replied. “We were talking the matter
over with Cousin Arthur last night, and he being willing to undertake
the business of instructing us, our plan is to stay at home with you
for some time, studying with him. That is, if you are satisfied to have
us do so.”
“Ah, I am much more than satisfied—most glad and thankful at the
thought of again enjoying daily intercourse with these two dear sons
who have been so long away from me during the greater part of the year.
But just now you both need rest and recreation. You must have an outing
somewhere for the next month or two, and I shall be glad to have you go
with me to sea-shore or mountains—or both—and hope to bring you back
refreshed and invigorated for your studies and such work for the Master
as you may find in this neighborhood.”
“Thank you, mother dear,” returned Harold; “you have made out a
programme that seems most inviting. I for one feel that rest and
recreation for a time will be very enjoyable, and work afterward much
more so than it could be at present.”
“I also,” said Herbert; “and it is certainly right to take rest when
needed; for the Master himself said to his disciples, when they were
weary, ‘Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile.’”
“Yes,” assented his mother, “and we shall accomplish more in the end by
taking needed rest; yet,” with a smiling glance at Herbert, “we must be
on our guard against too much self-indulgence in that line.”
The young man colored and was silent for a moment, his face wearing a
slightly mortified expression. “Mother dear,” he said presently, “I
hope I have, in a measure at least, overcome my natural inclination to
indolence.”
“My dear boy, I hope and believe so,” she said in return, “else you
could hardly have passed so good an examination as you did.”
“Indeed, mother, he has been really a hard student,” Harold said, “and
I think will undoubtedly show himself such when we begin our course of
medicine.”
“I believe he will,” she responded with a loving smile into Herbert’s
face and laying a hand tenderly upon his. “I hope to see you both
eminent in your chosen profession and doing good to the bodies and
souls of your fellow-men. I think there are few more useful men in the
world than our cousin Arthur Conly, and few who are more loved and
respected than he; we all love him and have great confidence in his
skill.”
“I have respected and loved him ever since I can remember,” remarked
Herbert feelingly, “and can never cease to feel grateful to him as
God’s instrument in the saving of my mother’s life.”
“Yes,” she said, “I can never forget his kindness at that critical time
in my life, and I believe we have all loved him even better since that
than before.”
“I think you are right about that, mother; I know you are so far as I
am concerned,” Harold said, tears starting to his eyes. “Ah, when we
heard of the danger and suffering you had passed through, we both felt
that life without our mother would scarcely be a blessing.”
Just then Rosie and Walter came in looking bright and happy.
“Ah, mamma, it is so delightful to have you at home again!” exclaimed
the former.
“We missed you sadly, kind as everybody was to us,” added Walter,
putting his arm round her neck and gazing with ardent affection into
her eyes, then kissing her on cheek and lips.
“I suppose it was a little hard for my baby boy to do without his
mother,” she returned laughingly, holding him in a close embrace.
“Ah, mamma, I can take that name from you easily enough, because I know
it is only your pet name for your youngest son, but I’d be vexed enough
if anybody else should call me a baby.”
“You might well laugh at the absurdity if any one should, Walter,”
Harold remarked, regarding his little brother with an affectionate look
and smile, “for you are really a manly young fellow. I expect to be
very proud of you one of these days.”
“And I am that already,” said Herbert, “for the captain tells me you
are a fine scholar for a lad of your years. Besides, I know you are a
good and dutiful son to mamma.”
“Indeed he is that, as all my boys are,” the mother said, regarding the
three with loving looks.
“And can you not say as much for your daughters too, mamma—at least for
Elsie and Vi?” asked Rosie in playful tone, but with a wistful look.
“I can indeed, for them and for Rosie also,” the mother answered,
smiling affectionately upon her. “My daughters are all great blessings
for which I thank my heavenly Father every day of my life. But now let
us have our morning chapter together,” opening her Bible as she spoke.
The morning was bright and fair, and it was a cheerful, bright-faced
party that presently surrounded the breakfast-table.
“Saturday morning, so only two hours for lessons to-day,” remarked
Walter in a tone of satisfaction, breaking a slight pause in the
conversation.
“What! my scholarly little grandson rejoicing in release from the
pursuit of knowledge?” exclaimed Mr. Dinsmore in mock surprise and
disapproval.
“Ah, grandpa, you are just in sport, I know,” laughed Walter. “But
don’t you believe these older fellows, Mr. Croly and my two brothers,
are glad of their holiday? I just know they are.”
“Judging others by yourself, after the manner of older people, eh?”
“Yes, sir; and I’d like to know what’s going to be done to-day.”
“Well, I believe I can inform you. Everybody who wants to go, and has
been faithful in attendance to preliminary duties, will spend the day,
by invitation, at the Oaks; Rosie’s day and yours beginning when your
two hours of school duties are over.”
“Oh, I like that! I’m glad, Cousin Mary, that you are to see the place,
it is so lovely there, and was mamma’s home when she was a little girl
and when she grew to be a young lady; and there are the rooms that used
to be hers, and the one she was married in.”
“I shall be greatly interested in looking at them all, as well as glad
to visit Cousin Horace and his family,” returned Miss Keith.
“I believe we are all invited?” Edward remarked interrogatively,
turning to his wife.
“Yes, my dear,” Zoe replied, “even to the babies, who, I hope, will
have a good time together in the nursery or out in the grounds.”
“Yes,” said Rosie, “Sisters Elsie and Violet were talking of going with
all the children and young folks of each family. Aunt Rosie too expects
to be there with her husband and all the children. The Howards are
going also, the Conlys too; so that we shall be the same large party
that were here yesterday.”
“And next week,” said Zoe, “we are all to assemble at Woodburn one day,
at the Laurels on another, then at Fairview, and afterward at Roseland.”
“What a grand time we shall have!” continued Rosie; “and how can
anybody be expected to give his or her mind to lessons? I have serious
thoughts of petitioning my big brother—the captain—for a week of
holidays.”
“How would it do to beg off from attendance upon the parties in order
to do justice to your studies?” asked her grandfather in the tone of
one suggesting an agreeable alternative.
“O grandpa, I couldn’t think of being so very impolite,” she exclaimed.
“Surely you must know that my absence would spoil all the fun and
seriously interfere with any enjoyment others might find in being there
if I were with them!”
“But then we ought, any of us, to be willing to forego our own
enjoyment for the sake of your improvement in your beloved studies,
Rosie dear,” said Herbert in tones of brotherly affection.
“Ah, but I could not think of allowing such self-denial for my sake!”
she exclaimed. “I should even prefer rising an hour earlier in the
morning, or toiling over my tasks an hour later at night; and that is
what I think I shall do, if the captain proves obdurate in regard to
the granting of the holidays.”
“Which he will if I’m not greatly mistaken,” said Walter. “He said we
were to go on with our studies till the time for our usual summer trip
up North, and he’s a man to stick to his word if there ever was one.”
“Quite a strong recommendation, Walter,” laughed Mrs. Dinsmore, “and I
really think the captain is deserving of it.”
“The captain is a very agreeable man to have a chat with,” remarked
Croly. “I have seldom been more interested than I was yesterday in a
little talk I had with him in regard to mining interests in the far
West.”
“Yes; he owns property out there in which there are mines of great
value,” said Harold.
“Ah? I was not aware of that fact, and he did not mention it,” returned
Croly; “but in reply to a remark of mine, that I had been paying some
attention to mineralogy and thought of going out to examine some
land father owns in Arizona, he gave me a good deal of interesting
information, such as I have not been able to find in any publication on
the subject that I have got hold of as yet.”
“And should you question him on naval matters, or the history of our
wars—or indeed history of any part of the world, I believe he could
furnish all the information you might happen to want,” said Herbert.
“Yes,” said Walter, “it’s my decided belief that Brother Levis knows
about as much on almost every subject as you could find in any of the
cyclopædias.”
“That’s very strong, Walter,” laughed Edward. “The captain is, without
doubt, a highly educated, intelligent, and well-read man, yet hardly
a walking cyclopædia; a compliment at which no one would laugh more
heartily than himself, for he hasn’t a particle of self-conceit in his
make-up.”
“Now you are complimenting him very highly, Ned,” said Mr. Dinsmore,
“yet are not saying more than he deserves. I know of no man for whom I
have a higher esteem than Captain Raymond.”
“And I can echo my father’s sentiments. He is a noble Christian man,
the best of husbands and fathers,” said Mrs. Travilla. “I know of no
man with whom I could feel better satisfied as the husband of one of my
daughters. Evidently he makes Violet very happy.”
“And his children from the oldest to the youngest fairly idolize him,”
remarked Zoe.
“And you do not object to him as a brother-in-law?” said Rosie
interrogatively.
“On the contrary I like him extremely in that capacity,” was the quick,
emphatic rejoinder.
“Mamma,” said Rosie insinuatingly, “Captain Raymond thinks a great deal
of you, and as you are his mother, he ought to do as you say; most
assuredly in regard to his treatment of your own children. Won’t you
please send him word this morning that we ought to be allowed a holiday
next week? Do now; there’s a good, kind mamma.”
“Would you have me say what I do not think, Rosie dear?” queried her
mother in return, and with an amused look into the bright eyes of her
youngest daughter.
“Ah, mamma, how can you be so severe?” exclaimed Rosie. “Just think how
trying to Walter and me to have to set off for lessons at Woodburn not
only to-day, but every day next week, when you have only been with us
for a day now since your return from your trip to the North.”
“For that very reason you and I ought to go willingly and without
any fuss,” interposed Walter, with manly decision of air and tone.
“Besides, as I said before, I know it would be perfectly useless to try
to get Brother Levis to change his mind about the matter.”
“Then, my wise younger brother, I’ll not petition for your release from
to-day’s tasks, or those of next week,” said Rosie.
“Oh, has anything been seen of last night’s burglar?” asked Croly,
breaking the slight pause following upon Rosie’s last remark.
“I have heard nothing of him,” replied Edward, “and indeed had
forgotten his existence until you spoke, Mr. Croly.”
“And poor Polly. Has she been seen?” inquired Mary Keith.
The answer was in the negative; no one had seen or heard of her.
“Ah well, then I suppose she must have found her way back to Woodburn,”
said Mary.
“By the way, Cousin Mary, how would you like to drive over there this
morning?” asked Edward. “They will hardly expect us at the Oaks before
eleven o’clock, and Woodburn lies but little out of our way in going.”
“But,” returned Miss Keith, “we might perhaps hinder Cousin Vi in her
preparations for the day’s outing.”
“I am going to drive you over and call for Vi and the little ones on
the way,” said Grandma Elsie. “I think we shall find her ready to go on
with us after we have had a little call, just for you to see the place.
Then the captain will come somewhat later with his children and mine.”
“And how is Cousin Ronald to get there, mamma?” asked Walter.
“Probably in the captain’s carriage, or on one of his horses,” she
replied; “the dear old gentleman can go when and how he likes. All such
questions were not settled last night, but I know there will be no
difficulty in his way, or that of any other invited guest, in getting
there comfortably and in good season.”
“I’m glad of that, mamma,” returned Walter; “I’m very fond of Cousin
Ronald and wouldn’t have him stay away for anything.”
At that remark several furtive, smiling glances were exchanged by the
brothers and sisters about the table.
“He is a very pleasant old gentleman,” said Mrs. Dinsmore, “and I
haven’t a doubt will add a great deal to the enjoyment of the company.”
“Yes, madam,” said Croly. “I saw comparatively little of him yesterday,
but quite enough to make me desire a further acquaintance.”
“Oh, by the way Will, shall we walk, ride, or drive over to the Oaks
to-day?” asked Harold.
“I am ready for any way that suits you, sir,” replied Croly.
“Well,” said Mr. Dinsmore, “I see every one is ready to leave the
table. We will have prayers at once, and afterward settle all such
questions in regard to the doings of the day.”