“In my little sister’s opinion,” laughed Mrs. Leland.

“And that of all present, I presume,” said “Grandma Rose.”

“I am fortunate in having so appreciative an audience,” returned Elsie gayly.

Lulu had accepted a mute invitation to take a seat by Violet’s side.

“Mamma Vi,” she whispered with heightened color, “I can’t sew as well as Gracie, and I’m ashamed to have anybody see my poor work.”

“Never mind, dear, we won’t show your first attempts, and you will find this coarse, soft muslin easy to learn on,” Violet answered in the same low tone.  “See, this is the way,” taking a few stitches.  “Your father told me he wanted his dear little girls to learn every womanly accomplishment, and I feel sure you will do your best to please him.  Take pains, and you may be able to send him some specimen of your work as a Christmas gift.  Would you not enjoy that?”

“Yes, ma’am, yes indeed!” returned the little girl, setting resolutely to work.

“Mamma,” said Gracie, coming to Violet’s other side, “mayn’t I have some work, too?  I like sewing better than Lulu does.  Aunt Beulah taught me to overseam and to hem.”

“Then you may help us, little girlie,” Violet said, kissing the little fair cheek, “but must stop the minute you begin to feel fatigued; for I must not let papa’s baby girl wear out her small strength.”

Presently, all having been supplied with work, the reading began.  Every one seemed able to listen with enjoyment except Lulu, who bent over her task with frowning face, making her needle go in and out with impatient pushes and jerks.

Violet watched the performance furtively for a few minutes, then gently taking the work from her, said in a pleasant undertone, “You are getting your stitches too long and too far apart, dear.  We will take them out, and you shall try again.”

“I can’t do it right!  I’ll never succeed, if I try ever so hard!” muttered Lulu, impatiently.

“Oh, yes, you will,” returned Violet with an encouraging smile.  “Keep trying, and you will be surprised to find how easy it will grow.”

The second attempt was quite an improvement upon the first, and under Violet’s pleased look and warm praise Lulu’s ruffled temper smoothed down, and the ugly frown left her face.

In the mean while Gracie was handling her needle with the quiet ease of one accustomed to its use, making tiny even stitches that quite surprised her new mamma.

With all her faults Lulu was incapable of envy or jealousy, especially toward her dearly loved brother and sister, and when at the close of the sewing hour Gracie’s work was handed about from one to another, receiving hearty commendation, no one was better pleased than Lulu.

“Isn’t it nice, Grandma Elsie?” she said, glancing at her little sister with a flush of pride in her skill, “a great deal better than I can do, though she’s two years younger.”