any of your enjoyments are to
be diminished, but because another is to have a pleasure which you think
greater."

My father paused for a moment, and I could not help feeling that,
according to his way of putting it, I certainly had been both naughty
and foolish: still, it occurred to me that being happy was not in itself
possible at all times; and that, similarly, if I were unhappy, I was
unhappy, not by choice, but because it was not in my power to feel
otherwise. I thought this, not indeed in words, or in any semblance of
coherent argument, but in a sort of confused perplexity, which was only
partly represented by my reply to my father:--

"Papa, I couldn't help feeling unhappy when I heard you talking about
Aleck's going. I couldn't make myself feel happy."

"Ah, Willie, you've come to the root of the matter now," he
answered;--"'_couldn't make myself_ feel happy!' That is just it,
Willie; a wrong feeling of envy came into your heart--you know it was a
wrong feeling that feeling of dislike that another should be happy, so I
need not waste time in proving it to you; and you could not chase the
enemy from your own heart, so, without ever remembering that there is
One who promises to help all who cry to Him for help, and who is
stronger than the strong man armed, you give in at once to the enemy;
and as you couldn't help yourself, came out of the battle conquered and
vanquished."

I hung my head down, feeling I had been a coward. "I'm so sorry, papa,"
I whispered.

"I thought you would be ere long, my child," he said. "I hope you used
the time in your room partly as I intended."

I knew I hadn't, and felt still more ashamed of myself, but said
nothing; I was never required to mention whether I had followed my
parents' advice on such occasions, they were so fearful of making me a
hypocrite.

"Our heavenly Father will have forgiven you all your fault, if you have
sought forgiveness through Jesus Christ; and now your earthly father is
quite ready to forgive also, as you seem really sorry."

My father gave me a kiss, and I threw my arms around his neck, and felt
the loneliness and sadness of the day all over. My mother came in a few
moments later, and joined us in the study, and with her loving, gentle
words, completed my happiness in being forgiven and received back again
into my usual position.

She did not forget all that had passed, however. I found that out at our
Bible readings; for almost the very next da