RECOLLECTIONS 147 



get. My husband had been called away to New York, 

 but had promised to return on a certain day, and to 

 bring with him some lovely mechanical dolls for the 

 three children. We were expecting him and the little 

 girls, especially, were looking forward to his coming 

 with eagerness. But when a heavy snowstorm set in, 

 with a driving wind, I hoped he would not try to re- 

 turn. The time for the last express came and passed, 

 and even the children decided that it was better for 

 Papa not to travel on such a night. Just as, however, 

 in spite of their disappoinment, they had bravely re- 

 signed themselves to retiring, into the room he burst, 

 his arms full of bundles and covered with snow. The 

 gaiety and excitement which followed may be imagined. 



"I couldn't wait to see the children's faces when they 

 saw the dolls," he explained, as a plea to me. "I 

 missed the express, but I took the local to the Junction 

 (two miles away) and," he finished, apologetically, "I 

 had to walk the rest of the way." 



And though it was by imprudent impulses like these 

 that he was wearing himself out, I could not chide 

 him. 



Full of joyous excitement, Vera, our second daugh- 

 ter, a little later exclaimed: 



"Papa! is there a happier family than ours, any- 

 where?" 



Truly it seemed that there could not be, and 

 to me no small part of this man's greatness of spirit 



