Have you any choice ?" "Is it to be more than one room for me, papa ?" he asked, with an arch smile.

"I believe boys don't usually fare quite so well as girls in such things." "My boy does," returned his father: "you shall have two or three rooms if you want them, and quite as well furnished as those of your sisters." "Then, if you please, papa, I'll take those over Lu's, and thank you very much.

But as you have already given me several things that my sisters haven't got,--a gun, a watch, and that splendid pony,--I think it would be quite fair that they should have better and prettier furniture in their rooms than I in mine." "That makes no difference, Max," his father answered with a pleased laugh.

"I should hardly want the girls to have guns, but watches and ponies they shall have by the time they are as old as you are now." At that the two little girls, standing near, exchanged glances of delight.

They had been unselfishly glad for Max, and now they rejoiced each for herself and for the other.
Though, in common with all the rest, deeply interested in the new home, Max was not sorry when his father and Violet decided that it was time to return to Ion; for he was eager to show his pony to grandma Elsie, Zoe, and Rosie, who had not yet seen it.
"Papa, do you require me to keep along-side of the carriage ?" he asked, as he remounted.
"No: if you wish, you may act as our _avant-courier_," was the smiling reply.