Then she began chatting again in her lively way,
Elsie answering very pleasantly until she was just ready to step into
bed, when she said gently, "Sophy, papa said, before I came up, that I
must not talk at all after I got into bed, so please don't be vexed if
I don't answer you, because you know I _must_ obey my father."

"Pshaw! how provoking. I thought we were going to have such a good time,
and I've got ever so much to say to you."

"I'm just as sorry as you are, Sophy, but I can't disobey papa."

"He'd never know it," suggested Sophy in a voice scarcely above a
whisper.

Elsie started with astonishment to hear Miss Rose's sister speaking thus.

"Oh, Sophy! you can't mean to advise me to deceive and disobey my
father?" she said. "God would know it, and papa would soon know it, too,
for I could never look him in the face again until I had confessed it."

Sophy blushed deeply. "I didn't think about its being deceitful. But
would your papa punish you for such a little thing?"

"Papa says disobedience is never a little thing, and he always punishes
me when I disobey him; but I wouldn't care so much for that, as for
knowing that I had grieved him so; because I love my papa very dearly.
But I must not talk any more; so good-night;" and she climbed into bed,
laid her head on the pillow, and in a very few moments was fast asleep.

CHAPTER XVI.

"Hail, Holy Day! the blessing from above
Brightens thy presence like a smile of love,
Smoothing, like oil upon a stormy sea,
The roughest waves of human destiny--
Cheering the good, and to the poor oppresse'd
Bearing the promise of their heavenly rest."

MRS. HALE'S PRIME OF LIFE.

When Chloe came in to dress her young charge the next morning, she found
her already up and sitting with her Bible in her hand.

"Don't make a noise, mammy," she whispered; "Sophy is still asleep."

Chloe nodded acquiescence, and moving softly about, got through the
business of washing and dressing her nursling, and brushing her curls,
without disturbing the sleeper. Then they both quietly left the room, and
Elsie, with her Bible in her hand, rapped gently at her father's door.

He opened it, and giving her a kiss and a "Good-morning, darling," led
her across the room to where he had been sitting by a window looking into
the garden. Then taking her on his knee, and stroking her hair fondly, he
said with a smile, "My little girl looks very bright this morning, and as
if she had had