ke you tell a lie! what can you mean, daughter?" he asked in
great surprise.

"Yes, papa, you are trying to make me ask Mamma Vi's pardon after I have
said I wouldn't."

"Ah, my child, that was a wicked promise because it was rebellion against
your father's authority, which God commands you to respect. Therefore the
sin was in making it, and it is your duty to break it."

Then he made her repeat the fifth commandment, and called her attention to
its promise of long life and prosperity, as far as it shall be for God's
glory and their own good, to all such as keep it.

"I want you to inherit that blessing, my child," he said, "and to escape
the curses pronounced against those who refuse obedience to their
parents."

Opening the Bible, he read to her, "The eye that mocketh at his father and
despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out,
and the young eagles shall eat it."

She gave him a frightened look, then, with a slight shudder, hid her face
on his breast, but did not speak.

"Lulu," he said, again softly stroking her hair, "about nine years ago I
came home from a long voyage to find a dear little dark-eyed baby
daughter, and as I took her in my arms, oh how my heart went out in love
to her and gratitude to God for giving her to me! I loved her dearly then.
I have loved her ever since with unabated affection, and never doubted her
love to me until now."

"Papa, I do love you," she said, hastily brushing away a tear. "I've said
I was sorry for being naughty to you and didn't mean to do so any more."

"And yet are continuing to be naughty and disobedient all the time. It is
quite possible, Lulu, that you may some day be fatherless; if that time
should come, do you think you will look back with pleasure to these days
of rebellion?"

At that she cried quite bitterly, but her father waited in vain for a word
of reply.

He put her on her knees on the floor, knelt beside her, and with his hand
on her head prayed earnestly, tenderly that the Lord would cast out her
wicked temper, forgive her sins, give her a new heart, and make her his
own dear child.

Rising, he took her in his arms again for a moment, she still sobbing, but
saying not a word, then putting her gently aside, he left the room.

To her surprise her dinner of bread and milk was presently brought up by
Agnes, who set it down and went out without exchanging a word with her.

The same thing occurred at supper-time.

Lulu