CHAPTER XII.
"My little Grace looks tired," the captain said, bending down and takingher in his arms as the little folks were bidding good night. "I shallcarry you up stairs, darling, after the old custom."
"Thank you, papa; I'm very willing," replied Grace, clasping his neckwith her small arms.
"Lulu, shall I say good night to you first?" he asked, smiling down athis eldest daughter, standing by his side; "as you have Eva with you,you will perhaps not care for the usual bit of good night chat with yourfather?"
"Yes, indeed I do care for it, papa!" cried Lulu. "Why, I sha'n't haveanother chance this year! I wouldn't miss it for anything!"
"Then you shall not," he said, looking both pleased and amused; "thatsounds as though the next opportunity were far in the distance."
He passed out of the room as he spoke, and on up the wide stairway, Luluand Eva following, each with an arm about the other's waist.
"Those talks must be so delightful," remarked the latter in a low tone,and with a slight sigh, "I'm very glad you don't let me hinder them,dear Lu."
"I knew you wouldn't want me to," said Lulu; "you are always so kindand thoughtful for others; and though papa sometimes gives me a quarterof an hour or more, when we have a great deal to say to each other, Ithink he won't stay more than a minute or two to-night! so that it won'tkeep me long away from you."
"Oh please don't hurry for my sake," said Eva, adding softly, "You knowI, too, shall be glad of a few minutes alone with my best Friend. So ifyou like, I will go into the little tower room while your papa is withyou."
"You can have both that and my bedroom to yourself, dear," returnedLulu, "for I shall receive papa in the little sitting room that isGracie's and mine."
They had reached the upper hall. The captain passed into Gracie'sbedroom, Lulu into her own, Eva with her.
"Such a sweet, pretty room!" Eva said, glancing around it; "I am alwaysstruck with that thought on coming into it, though I have seen it sooften."
"Yes," returned Lulu, her face lighting up with pleasure, "I think it somyself. Our dear father is constantly adding pretty things here andthere to our room, and doing oh so much to make his children happy! Yet,would you believe it, Eva? I am sometimes both ill-tempered anddisobedient to him."
"Not now! not lately?" Evelyn said half in assertion, half inquiringlyand with a look of surprise.
"Yes," Lulu replied in a low, remorseful tone, her eyes downcast, herface flushing painfully; "only last month, one day Max was teasing meand I was in very bad humor, so answered him very crossly. Papa happenedto be in the next room and overheard it all, and called to us both tocome to him. His voice sounded stern, and I felt angry and rebellious.Max, never does feel so, I believe, anyway he's always obedient, and hewent at once, but I waited to be called a second time, and--O Eva, I'mdreadfully, dreadfully ashamed! but I feel as if I must tell you becauseI can't bear to have you think me so much better than I am."
"Dear Lu, don't tell it if it hurts you so. I'm sure if you were not agood girl you wouldn't feel so very sorry and ashamed," Evelyninterrupted, putting both arms round her friend and kissing her withwarmth of affection.
"No, indeed, I'm not!" said Lulu; "and I'll tell it, if only to punishmyself for my badness. Papa has never punished me for it, though Ireally did wish he would and asked him to over and over again."
"That seems very odd," Eva said, half smiling. "Most people are only tooglad to escape punishment."
"Maybe I'm different from most folks," said Lulu, "but I always want tobeat myself when I've been so hateful, and so if papa punishes me Ialways feel a good deal happier after it's over.
"But I must finish my story. Papa asked, 'Lulu, did you hear me bid youcome to me?' and I answered, 'Yes, sir'; then muttered, 'but I'll notcome a step till I get ready.'"
Evelyn seemed lost in astonishment. "Oh Lu! did you really say that?could you venture to speak so to your father--a man whom everybodyrespects so highly, and who is so dear and kind to you?"
"I did," acknowledged Lulu, her head hanging still lower and her cheekflushing more hotly. "You see when I lived with Aunt Beulah I got intothe way of being very saucy to her, and I suppose that's how I came tospeak so to papa. Oh don't you think I ought to be dreadfully ashamed,and that papa should have punished me very severely?"
"I suppose he is the best judge of that," Eva answered, doubtfully. "Butwhat did he do? Surely he didn't pass it over as of no consequence? Ithink he couldn't feel it right to allow his own child to refuseobedience to his commands."
"No; of course not. The minute I'd said the words I could have bitten mytongue off for it. I hoped papa hadn't heard, but he had, and he rosefrom his chair and came toward me (very quietly; not at all as if he wasin a passion), and I jumped up, saying 'I will, papa; I'm coming.'"
"Then he said in a tone as if he were grieved and astonished that hisown little girl could talk so to him--'Tardy obedience following upon amost insolent refusal to obey,' and took my hand and led me to the sideof his chair.
"Then he sat down and talked to Max a little, and sent him up to hisroom, and after Max had gone he talked to me.
"He said he must punish me, but he would try a new way, and for fourdays I shouldn't be his child at all--at least not be treated like it,but just as if I were only a little girl visitor; he wouldn't give meany orders, or advice, or direction, or instruction; and I mustn't takeany liberty with him that I wouldn't feel free to take with a strangergentleman.
"He said I must understand that he did not intend to subject me to anyharsh treatment, but would be as polite and attentive to my wants as ifI were a guest in the house."
"O Lu, did you like it? was it nice?"
"No, indeed! I thought they were the longest days I'd ever lived, andwondered how I could ever have thought I'd like to be my own mistressinstead of having to obey papa.
"He didn't give me one cross word or even look, but he didn't invite meto sit on his knee, and I didn't dare do so; he didn't call me pet namesand hug me up in his arms, as he so often does when I haven't beennaughty, and I couldn't wait on him as I always love to do; he wouldn'tlet me do the least thing for him. I just felt as if I wasn't one of thefamily at all, and would ten times rather have had the hardest ofwhippings; at least so far as the pain was concerned."
"Yes, of course; it wouldn't have been half so hard to bear. At least Ican imagine that to be made to feel yourself only a stranger in yourfather's house would be a great deal worse than having to endure quitesevere bodily pain. So I think you may feel that you have beenpunished."
"Not so severely as I deserve," returned Lulu, shaking her head andsighing; "no not half. There, I can hear Gracie calling me to saygood-night. Excuse me while I run into her room for a few minutes."
She found Grace alone and just getting into bed.
"Where's papa?" Lulu asked.
"Gone down stairs; but he said he'd be back in a few minutes to have hisbit of chat with you in our sitting-room."
"Then I'll just kiss you good night and hurry back to get ready forhim."
When the captain came he found Lulu ready and waiting for him, seatedby the fire with her Bible open in her hand.
"I was learning my verse for to-morrow morning, papa," she said, closingthe book and laying it aside, as she rose to give him the easy chair shehad been occupying.
"That was right," he replied, sitting down and drawing her to his knee;"one could hardly end the old year, or begin the new, in a better waythan by the study of God's word. Well, has my little daughter anythingparticular to say to her father to-night?"
"Only that I wish I'd been a better daughter to you, papa, and that Ihope I shall be this--no next year: the year that's to begin in a fewhours. I do hope that when its last night comes you can say, 'Mydaughter Lulu hasn't been once disobedient or in a passion for a wholeyear.'"
"It will be a very happy thing for me--for us both--if I can," he said,"and I am not without hope that it may be so. But my dear child, youwil
l need constant watchfulness lest your besetting sins overcome youwhen you least expect it."
"I wish I could ever get done with the fight," she sighed. "It's such ahard one."
"Yes, I know, dear child, for I am engaged in the same conflict; but wemust keep on resolutely till the dear Master calls us home.
"But we have the promise of His help all the way, and that we shall be'more than conquerors through Him that loved us.' And the prize iseternal life at God's right hand."
"It will be always easy to be good when we get to heaven?"
"Yes; the last remains of the old evil nature will have been taken away,and we will have no more inclination to sin."
"I am very glad of that! and that God gave me such a good Christianfather to help me in my hard fight! And, papa, I must tell you againthat I am very, very sorry and ashamed because of my naughtiness lastmonth."
"Dear child, my dear humble penitent little girl!" he said tenderly, "itwas all long since fully and freely forgiven. Now good night, mydarling; and good bye till next year," he added in playful tone, kissingher fondly over and over again, "unless something unforeseen should makeyou want your father before morning. In that case you will not have farto run to find him."
"Oh no; and it makes me glad always at night to remember that you are sonear, and the doors all open between our rooms, so that you could hearme if I should call out to you, papa. I know you wouldn't be displeasedat being wakened if I were in trouble and needed you."
"No, indeed, daughter; in that case I should be only too glad to beroused that I might hasten to your assistance.
"But let your greatest rejoicing be in the thought that you and I andall of us are under the care of Him who neither slumbers nor sleeps. 'Itis better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.'"
Rosie in her mamma's room, which she shared at this time, as on a formeroccasion, was preparing for bed, Grandma Elsie quietly reading in aneasy chair beside the fire.
Presently Rosie went to the side of the chair and dropping on her kneeson the carpet, looked up smilingly into the sweet placid face bent overthe book.
"Mamma, dear, I have come for my good night kiss before getting intobed," she said softly, adding sportively, "the last I shall solicit fromyou this year."
"And you are going to be satisfied with one?" her mother asked lettingthe book fall into her lap, while she laid one hand gently on her youngdaughter's head and gazed tenderly down into the blooming face; with asomewhat sad expression too, Rosie thought.
"I say, no to that, mamma," she returned, laying her head in hermother's lap and taking into her own the hand that had been resting onit, to press it again and again to her lips with ardent affection, "forI shall not be satisfied with less than half a dozen."
Elsie gave them in quick succession, gathering her child in her arms andmaking her rest her fair head on the maternal bosom, and Rosie felt awarm tear fall on her cheek.
"Mamma!" she exclaimed in concerned surprise, "you are crying! What canbe the matter? have I said or done anything to grieve you, dear heart?"reaching up an arm to clasp her mother's neck, while she scanned theloved features with earnest, tender scrutiny.
For a minute or more there was no reply. Then Elsie said, in movedtones, softly smoothing the hair back from Rosie's temples as she spoke,and gazing tenderly down into her eyes, "My heart is sad for you, mydarling, because, while another year is rapidly drawing to a close, Ihave yet no reason to hope that you have sought a refuge within the foldof the good Shepherd who gives to his sheep eternal life; the dearSaviour who has been all these years inviting you to come to him and besaved."
"Mamma, I am very young yet," murmured Rosie, hanging her head andblushing.
"Old enough to have become a disciple of Jesus years ago," her mothersaid in sorrowful tones. "O my darling, give him the best years of yourlife; the whole of your life, whether it be long or short. Is he notworthy of it?"
"Yes, mamma; surely there can be only one answer to that and I do meanto--to try to turn over a new leaf with the coming of the new year. But,mamma, I know of a number of good Christians who didn't begin to be suchtill they were many years older than I am. There is grandpa for one."
"Yes, my child," sighed her mother, "but he has always deeply regrettedhaving so long delayed beginning the Christian course--entering theservice of the dear Master whom now he loves better than wife or childor any created being. There are many reasons, my darling, why delay isboth dangerous and unwise as well as basely ungrateful."
"You allude to the uncertainty of life, mamma?"
"Yes, and of the continuance of health and reason. How many have beensuddenly overtaken by fatal illness that at once robbed them of thepower to think, so that if preparation for the solemn realities ofanother world had not been already made, the opportunity for so doingwas forever lost!
"There is also danger that God's Spirit may cease to strive with you,and without His help you can not come to Christ.
"Nor do we know how soon Jesus may come again in the clouds of heaven.He himself has told us that he will come as a thief in the night; thatis when he is not expected.
"But, Rosie, my dear child, even if you could know certainly that delaywill not cost you the loss of your soul, it will bring you other lossgreat and irreparable."
"What, mamma?" Rosie asked with a look of mingled surprise and alarm. "Ican not think what you mean."
"While it is a precious truth that all who finally repent and accept ofChrist as their only Saviour, will inherit eternal life--a life ofholiness and unspeakable happiness at God's right hand," answered hermother, "yet there will be a difference in the portions of those whohave spent many years in the faithful service of the Master--using theirtime and talents for the advancement of his cause and kingdom, andstriving to win others to know and serve him, and themselves to grow ingrace and conformity to his likeness and his will--and that of otherswho have been saved only at the last and so as by fire. All will beperfectly happy but some will have a greater capacity for happiness thanothers.
"According to the teachings of God's word sin is the greatest folly, theservice of God the highest wisdom.
"'Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?... Richesand honor are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruitis better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choicesilver!
"'They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; andthey that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever.'
"Rosie, my darling, it is the dearest wish of my heart to see youengaged in that work; but you cannot teach others what you do not knowyourself; you must first give your heart to God and learn for yourselfthe sweetness of his love. Will you not do it now? at once? Oh listen tohis gracious invitation, 'Give me thine heart.'"
For some moments a deep and solemn hush seemed to fill the room, Rosiestill kneeling there with her head pillowed on her mother's breast,Elsie's heart going up in an almost agonizing petition for her child.
At length Rosie lifted her head looking up into her mother's face withdewy eyes and a very sweet smile.
"Mamma," she said in low tremulous tones, "I have tried to do it; I haveasked the Lord to forgive all my sins, to cleanse me from mineiniquities, and to take me for his very own; and I think he has heardand granted my petition.
"You know when the leper came to him saying, 'Lord, if thou wilt, thoucanst make me clean,' Jesus at once put forth his hand and touched himsaying, 'I will; be thou clean'; and immediately the leprosy departedfrom him. Mamma, I have been praying the leper's prayer, and I think thedear Lord Jesus has said the same words to me."
"I am sure of it," Elsie said with emotion, "for he is the unchangeableGod; 'Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever'; as readyto be moved with compassion for a sin-sick soul to-day, as he was for theleper when on earth. And he has said, 'Him that cometh to me I will inno wise cast out.'"
Clasping her hands and looking upward, "Bless the Lor
d, O my soul," sheexclaimed; "'and all that is within me, bless his holy name!'"