“How?” he asked in a puzzled tone.  If anything could interest this eccentric little millionaire more than the usual trend of events it was an original proposition of this sort.  He loved to do things that other people had not attempted, nor even thought of.  He hated conversational platitudes and established conventions, and his nieces had endeared themselves to him more by their native originality and frank disregard of ordinary feminine limitations than in any other way.  It was generally conceded that Patsy was his favorite because she could advance more odd suggestions than the other girls, and this niece had a practical aptitude for carrying out her whimsical ideas that had long since won her uncle’s respect.  Not that she could outdo Mr. Merrick in eccentricity:  that was admitted to be his special province, in which he had no rival; but the girl was so clever a confederate that she gave her erratic uncle much happiness of the sort he most appreciated.

Therefore, this seemingly preposterous proposition to establish a daily paper on a retired country farm did not strike the old gentleman as utterly impossible, and anything within the bounds of possibility was sure to meet his earnest consideration, especially when it was proposed by one of his favorite nieces.

“How?” responded Patsy; “why, it’s easy enough, Uncle.  We’ll buy a press, hire a printer, and Beth and Louise will help me edit the paper.  I’m sure I can exhibit literary talents of a high order, once they are encouraged to sprout.  Louise writes lovely poetry and ’stories of human interest,’ and Beth—­”

“I can’t write even a good letter,” asserted that young lady; “but I’d dearly love to edit a newspaper.”

“Of course,” agreed Louise; “we all would.  And I think we could turn out a very creditable paper—­for Millville.  But wouldn’t it cost a lot of money?”

“That isn’t the present question,” replied Uncle John.  “The main thing is, do you girls want to be tied down to such a task?  Every day in the week, all during our summer holiday—­”

“Why, you’ve made our whole lives a holiday, Uncle John,” interrupted Patsy, “and we’ve been so coddled and swamped with luxuries that we are just now in serious danger of being spoiled!  You don’t want three spoiled nieces on your hands, do you?  And please make allowance for our natural impetuosity and eagerness to be up and doing.  We love the farm, but our happiness here would be doubled if we had some occupation to keep us busy, and this philanthropic undertaking would furnish us with no end of fun, even while we were benefiting our fellow man.”

“All jabber, dear,” exclaimed Beth.  “I admit the fun, but where does the philanthropy come in?”