Part 17 (2/2)

”Yes, my child; and it is the dearest wish of my heart that I may see my children thus growing in grace, and in likeness to the dear Master.”

”Papa, I want to,” said Grace softly; ”oh, I want to, very much!”

”Then ask G.o.d to help you, my darling, remembering that he is the hearer and answerer of prayer.”

”And you will ask him for both of us, won't you, papa?”

”I will, I do, my darling; there is never a day when I do not pray earnestly for each one of my dear children, that G.o.d will make them his own true followers and keep them in every time of trial and temptation, taking them safely to heaven at last. Life in this world is exceedingly short compared with the eternal existence which awaits us all in another--that life of infinite joy and blessedness at G.o.d's right hand, or of everlasting, untold misery, unending, inconceivable anguish, in the blackness of darkness, shut out forever from his presence,” he added in moved tones. ”G.o.d in his infinite goodness and mercy grant that the first and not the last may be the portion of each one of my beloved children!”

”Oh, papa,” said Grace softly, ”how can any one help loving the dear Saviour who died that we might go to heaven and not to that other awful place!”

”Oh,” said Lulu, ”I do want to love him more and serve him better! When I think of his wonderful goodness and love to us poor sinners, I'm just as ashamed as I can be that I don't love him at all as I ought, and am so often ill-tempered and selfish and bad. Papa, I do really think it is kind and good in you to punish me when I deserve it, and need it to make me a better girl.”

”And I shall be very glad indeed if you never again make it necessary for me to do so,” he responded.

”I do hope I won't,” she returned. ”Papa, I'm very much afraid I'll be thinking and talking to-day about the wedding and what everybody is going to wear at it, and I know I won't be in half so much danger of doing so if I keep close to you; so mayn't I?”

”Yes, daughter; I am always glad to have you near me,” he said kindly; ”and it pleases me that you are desirous to avoid temptation to do wrong.”

”And you are just as willing to let me keep near you, papa?” Grace said inquiringly, and with a wistful, pleading look up into his face.

”Certainly, my dear little daughter. I love you not a whit less than I do your sister,” he said, drawing her into a closer embrace. ”However, you may both stay here reading your Bibles and Sunday school books for a half hour longer. Then I will come for you and you may spend the rest of the day as close to your father's side as you choose.” With that he left them.

”Such a dear, good father as ours is!” exclaimed Lulu, gazing after him with loving, admiring eyes.

”Yes, indeed! I am sure there couldn't be a better or dearer one. Oh, I do love him so!” said Grace, turning over the leaves of her Bible.

”Let's read verse about, Lu.”

”I'm agreed; and let it be the Book of Esther. I do think that is such a lovely story.”

”So it is; and so is Ruth, and that's shorter. I don't believe we'll have time to read all of Esther before papa comes for us.”

”Maybe not,” a.s.sented Lulu; ”so we will read Ruth.”

They had finished the story and were talking it over together when their father came. It was then nearly tea time.

Sacred music filled up most of the evening, and all the young girls and boys retired early to bed that they might be ready for the pleasures and employments of the coming day. The older people sat somewhat longer upon the veranda, conversing upon topics suited to the sacredness of the day.

They were Christians, and loved to speak of the Master and the things concerning his kingdom.

”Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.”

As usual, Lulu was up early the next morning, and joined her father in a walk under the trees along the bank of the bayou.

”Well, daughter, has the rest of the Sabbath made you ready for work in the school-room again?” he asked, smiling down affectionately into her face, rosy, bright, and happy with health and gay spirits.

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