"There is my son now going to his room. He will join us shortly. I cannot tell you, my lord, how great a help I have in my son. As you know, my step-son, Captain Laurence Washington, late of the British army, since leaving his Majesty's service and marrying Mistress Anne Fairfax, has lived at the Hunting Creek place, which he has called Mount Vernon, in honor of his old friend and comrade-in-arms, Admiral Vernon. It is a good day's journey from here, and although Laurence is most kind and attentive, I have had to depend, since his marriage, upon my son George to take his father's place in the conduct of my affairs and in my household. It is he who reads family prayers night and morning, and who presides with dignity at the foot of my table. It may seem strange to those who do not know his character how much I rely upon his judgment, and he but fifteen. Even my younger sons obey and respect him, and my daughter Betty does hang upon her brother. 'Tis most sweet to see them together." At which Mistress Betty smiled and glanced at the Earl, and saw so kind a look in his eyes that she looked at him quite boldly after that. "It is most gratifying to hear of this, madam," replied the Earl; "but it is hardly merciful of you to a childless old man, who would give many worldly advantages had he but a son to lean upon in his old age." "You should have married twenty years ago, my lord." Something like a gleam of saturnine humor appeared in the Earl's eyes at this, but he only replied, dryly. "Perhaps it is not wholly my fault, madam, that I find myself alone in my old age." At that moment the door opened, and young Washington stood upon the threshold. [TO BE CONTINUED.] A GIRL IN TRAINING. BY MARY TAYLOR BISSELL. There are three things which every girl would undoubtedly wish for if she believed they were within her reach. First, to be healthy, so that she might enjoy life with zest; second, to be graceful, for beauty's sake; and third, to be skilful, physically accomplished; and it is probable that if she knew that a certain training in life would give her these qualities she would follow it gladly. Unfortunately there is no royal road to health or to skill any more than to learning. These are only gained by a little effort here and a little more there. It is known to every one, however, that training will do wonders in the way of improving and making over the human body.