"Mamma," said Eddie, coming into the school-room next morning with a slight frown on his usually pleasant face, "why do you call us to lessons? can't we have holidays now that we are going away so soon?" "No, my son; I think it best to attend now to our regular duties. You will have a rest from study while taking the journey, and for a few days after we reach Viamede. Will not that be better?" she asked, with a motherly smile, as she softly smoothed back the dark clustering curls from his broad open brow. "But I don't want to say lessons to-day," he answered with a pout, and resolutely refusing to meet her glance. "My little son," she said, with tender gravity, "were we sent into this world to please ourselves?" "No, mamma." "No; 'even Christ pleased not himself,' and we are to try to be like him. Whose will did he do?" "His Father's, mamma." "Yes, and whose will are you to do?" "God's will, you've taught me, mamma, but--" "Well, son?" "Mamma, will you be angry if I say my thought?" "I think not: let me hear it." "Mamma, isn't--isn't it your will this time? About the lessons I mean. Please mamma, don't think I want to be naughty, asking it?" She drew him closer, and bending down pressed her lips to his forehead. "No, my son, you want it explained, and I am glad you told me your thought. Yes, it is my will this time, but as God bids children honor and obey their parents, is it not his will also?" "I s'pose so, mamma. But I wish it didn't be your will to have me learn lessons to-day." Elsie was forced to smile in spite of herself. With another slight caress she asked, "Do you think I love you, Eddie?" "Oh yes, yes mamma, I know you do, and I love you too: indeed I do dearly, dearly!" he burst out, throwing his arms about her neck. "And I know you just want to make me good and happy and that your way's always best. So I won't be naughty any more." At that there was a general exclamation of delight from the other three, who had been silent, but deeply interested listeners, and all crowded round mamma vying with each other in bestowing upon her tender caresses and words of love. Each had felt more or less disinclination for the regular routine of work, but that vanished now, and they went through their allotted tasks with more than usual spirit and determination. Ah what a sweetener of toil is love! love to a dear earthly parent, and still more love to Christ: there is no drudgery in the most menial employment where that is the motive power. Chapter Twenty-third. "Put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite." --PROVERBS xxiii. 2. The happy day came, full soon to the fathers and mothers, at long last to the eager expectant children. Old Mr. Dinsmore had accepted a pressing invitation from his granddaughter and her husband, to join the party, and with the addition of servants it was a large one.