can hardly
see the fir trees now through the thick falling powder. No! it is going to
keep on this way forever and ever," growled Wynnette, who was, for her, in
a very despondent mood.

Next day, being New Year's Eve, it did clear off, however. And in the most
delightful way. Not with a high wind, as it often does, to drift the
new-fallen snow and obstruct the roads and make matters worse than before;
but with a still, cold, bright, frosty air that hardened the snow and
glazed its surface and made--such splendid sleighing.

"Oh, good-morning, Sun!" said little Elva, standing at the front window of
the parlor and looking eastward. "Good-morning, Sun! We are very glad to
see you again!"

"After your uncommonly bad behavior in sulking and hiding yourself for the
last three days," added Wynnette, who was now standing beside her youngest
sister.

"You wrong the beautiful and benignant sun, Wynnette, dear," said Miss
Meeke, coming up behind them. "The sun is always shining for us. The earth
turns around from the sun, and it is night--turns toward him, and it is
day. The earth wanders far away from the sun, and it is winter--comes
toward him again, and it is summer. But the sun shines in the empyrean all
the time, wherever the earth may be. Fogs and mists arise from the land
and water, condense in clouds, and obscure his glorious face, but they
come down in rain or snow, clearing the atmosphere, and we say the sun
shines again, when, in truth, he has been shining all the time. And as it
is with the sun and earth, dear children, so it is with our Father in
heaven and ourselves. We turn away from Him, and our souls grow dark; we
turn to Him again, and we receive His light. We wander far from Him into
selfishness and worldliness, and we suffer a spiritual coldness and
blindness; we come back to Him, and we are warmed and enlightened by His
love and His wisdom. Sometimes doubts and fears and hates--the opposites
of faith and hope and love--arise from our lower nature and hide from us
the face of our Father in heaven; but He has not changed. He is always
ready to bless us when we turn again to Him--turn in truth and love,
children, not in terror and self-seeking. So, dear ones, when clouds and
storms darken the atmosphere, think of the sun that is shining above them;
and when doubts and fears and sorrows and temptations come, think of the
love and wisdom and power of our Father in heaven, and turn to Him for
light and strength