her's frown is so dreadful, so _very_ hard to
bear, how much worse would be my heavenly Father's? But, oh, that
boarding-school! How can I ever endure its trials and temptations? I am
so weak and sinful! Ah! if papa would but spare me this trial--if he
would only let me stay at home--but he will not--for he has _said_ I must
go, and never breaks his word;" and again her tears fell fast, but she
dashed them away and took up her Bible.

It opened at the fiftieth chapter of Isaiah, and her eye fell upon
these words: "For the Lord God will help me: therefore shall I not be
confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that
I shall not be ashamed. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that
obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no
light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God."

Ah! here was comfort. "The Lord God will help me!" she repeated; and
bowing her face over the holy book she gave thanks for the precious
promise, and earnestly, tearfully pleaded that it might be fulfilled
unto her.

Then rising from her knees, she bathed her eyes and rang for Fanny to
prepare her for her ride. It was the usual hour for it, her horse was
already at the door, and very soon the little girl might have been seen
galloping up the road towards the Oaks, quite alone, excepting that Jim,
her constant attendant, rode some yards in the rear.

It was a pleasant summer morning; there had been just rain enough the
night before to cool the air and lay the dust, and everything was looking
fresh and beautiful--and had the little Elsie's heart been as light and
free from care as would have seemed natural to one of her age, she would
no doubt have enjoyed her ride extremely. It was but a short one, and the
place well known to her, for she had often passed it, though she had
never yet been in the grounds.

In a few moments she reached the gate, and Jim having dismounted and
opened it for her, she rode leisurely up a broad, gravelled carriage-way,
which wound about through the grounds, giving the traveller a number of
beautiful views ere he reached the house, a large building of dark-gray
stone, which stood so far back, and was so entirely hidden by trees and
shrubbery, as to be quite invisible from the highway. Now the road was
shaded on either hand by large trees, their branches almost meeting
overhead, and anon, an opening in their ranks afforded a glimpse of some
charming