"Guardy Lud" was the first visitor, just for a night and a day. He had
come East for a flying business trip, and could not pass by his
beloved wards without at least a glimpse. He dropped down into their
midst quite unexpectedly the night before college closed, and found
them with a bevy of young people at the supper-table, who opened their
ranks right heartily, and took him in. He sat on the terrace in the
moonlight with them afterwards, joking, telling them stories, and
eating chocolates with the rest. When they gathered about the piano
for a sing, he joined in with a good old tenor, surprising them all by
knowing a lot of the songs they sang.
After the young people were gone he lingered, wiping his eyes, and
saying, "Bless my soul!" thoughtfully. He told Julia Cloud over and
over again how more than pleased he was with what she had done for his
children, and insisted that her salary should be twice as large. He
told her she was a big success, and should have more money at her
command to do with as she pleased, and that he wanted the children to
have a larger allowance during the coming year. Allison had spoken of
his work among the young people of the church, and he felt that it
would have been the wish of their father and mother both that the
young people should give liberally toward church-work. He would see
that a sum was set aside in the bank for their use in any such plans
as they might have for their Christian Endeavor work.
They talked far into the night, for he had to hear all the stories of
all their doings, and every minute or two one or the other of the
children would break in to tell something about the other or to praise
their dear Cloudy Jewel for her part in everything.
The next day they took him everywhere and showed him everything about
the college and the place, introduced him to their favorite
professors, at least those who were not already gone on their
vacations, and took him for a long drive past their favorite haunts.
Then he had to meet Jane Bristol and Howard Letchworth. Julia Cloud
was greatly relieved and delighted when he set his approval upon both
these young people as suitable friends for the children.
"They are both poor and earning their own living," said Julia Cloud,
feeling that in view of the future and what it might contain she
wanted to be entirely honest, that the weight of responsibility should
not rest too heavily upon her.
"All the better for that, no doubt," said Guardy Lud thoughtfully,
watching Jane Bristol's sweet smile as she talked over some committee
plans with Allison. "I should say they were about as wholesome a
couple of young people as could be found to match your two. Just keep
'em to that kind for a year or two more, and they'll choose that kind
for life. I'm entirely satisfied with the work you're doing, Miss
Cloud. I couldn't have found a better mother for 'em if I'd searched
heaven, I'm sure."
And so Julia Cloud was well content to go on with her beloved work as
home-maker.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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