In the fortress of the mountains, by the gentle falling fountains, Elves and fays will miss the army late who made the forests ring, But the school-house will be swarming, teachers' hearts for gladness warming, When the gallant host is gathered and again the children sing. Soon will sound for instant rally, over hill and over valley, That old tocsin which so often we have heard in days of yore, And with merry faces beaming, to the same dear places streaming, At a quick-march will the pupils hurry through the school-room door. IN THE OLD HERRICK HOUSE.[1] [1] Begun in HARPER'S ROUND TABLE No. 879. BY ELLEN DOUGLAS DELAND. CHAPTER IV. "Come into the drawing-room," said Miss Herrick in her most commanding tones. Valentine and Elizabeth obeyed. They remained standing while she seated herself in the identical carved chair from which so short a time before had dangled the shabby shoes of Eva Louise Brady. "Who were those children?" "Eva Louise and Bella Brady," replied her niece. "And what were they doing here?" "They--they have been playing jack-stones, and--and eating." "Eating! Playing jack-stones! And how, may I ask, did they happen to come?" "We were giving a party, Val and I, especially for the Bradys, Aunt Caroline. I was afraid you might not exactly like it, and so I think if I explain you will understand better." "It certainly requires an explanation," said Miss Herrick, stiffly. "I suppose that if I had not returned unexpectedly early I should have known nothing of it. I find that you are not to be trusted at all." "Oh, Aunt Caroline, don't say that! Indeed I am to be trusted; only Val and I--" "Leave Valentine out of the question. It is you who are responsible." "But Val thought of it," began Elizabeth, eagerly. "At least he thought of part of it." Then she stopped. Valentine thus far had said nothing. Was he not going to stand by her? She looked at the boy, but still he remained silent. "I am waiting for your explanation," said her aunt. "Well, we saw Eva Louise from the window, and Val said--at least we both thought we would go down and see her. And then on the way I told Val I was so sorry for them, and would like to have a party for them, and he said--at least we both thought it would be very nice to ask them over, and I remembered about that feast in the Bible. Don't you remember, Aunt Caroline, where people are told what kind of parties to give? Perhaps you have never read just that part of the Bible, for you never do give that kind of a party. Your people are all so rich and come in carriages, but it really does say somewhere something about inviting the poor and the lame and the halt and the blind. Well, of course I know the Bradys are poor, and I thought very likely they were halt, and so I decided to ask them."