Itisalsowelltorememberthatasenseofhumorisahealthyanti-
scorbutictothatportentousseriousnesswhichdefeatsitsownpurpose。
Occasionallybitsofself-educationprovedofunexpectedhelptothechildreninlateryears。Likeotherchildren，theywereapttotaketobedwiththemtreasureswhichtheyparticularlyesteemed。Oneoftheboys，justbeforehissixteenthbirthday，wentmoosehuntingwiththefamilydoctor，andclosepersonalfriendoftheentirefamily，AlexanderLambert。Oncenightovertookthembeforetheycamped，andtheyhadtoliedownjustwheretheywere。NextmorningDr。Lambertratherenviouslycongratulatedtheboyonthefactthatstonesandrootsevidentlydidnotinterferewiththesoundnessofhissleep；towhichtheboyresponded，“Well，Doctor，youseeitisn’tverylongsinceIusedtotakefourteenchinaanimalstobedwithmeeverynight！”
Asthechildrengrewup，SagamoreHillremaineddelightfulforthem。
Therewerepicnicsandridingparties，thereweredancesinthenorthroom——sometimesfancydressdances——andopen-airplaysonthegreentenniscourtofoneofthecousin’shouses。Thechildrenarenolongerchildrennow。Mostofthemaremenandwomen，workingouttheirownfatesinthebigworld；someinourownland，othersacrossthegreatoceansorwheretheSouthernCrossblazesinthetropicnights。Someofthemhavechildrenoftheirown；someareworkingatonething，someatanother；incableships，inbusinessoffices，infactories，innewspaperoffices，buildingsteelbridges，bossinggraveltrainsandsteamshovels，orlayingtracksandsuperintendingfreighttraffic。