You are very precious to your father's heart, Elsie, but I am not going to _spoil_ my little girl because I love her so dearly; nor because I have been so near losing her." His voice trembled as he pronounced the last words, and for a moment emotion kept him silent.

Then he went on again.
"I shall never again bid you do violence to your conscience, my daughter, but to all the commands which I _do_ lay upon you I shall still expect and require the same ready and cheerful obedience that I have heretofore.
It is my duty to require, and yours to yield it." "Yes, papa, I know it is," she said with a little sigh, "but, it is very difficult sometimes to keep from wanting to have my own way." "Yes, darling, I know it, for I find it so with myself," replied her father gently; "but we must, ask God to help us to give up our own wills, and be satisfied to do and have what we _ought_, rather than what we would _like_." "I will, papa," she whispered, hugging him tighter and tighter.

"I am so glad you teach me that." They were quite quiet again for a little while.

She was running her fingers through his hair.
"Oh, papa!" she exclaimed, "I see two or three white hairs! I am so sorry! I don't want you to get old.

What made these come so soon, papa ?" He did not reply immediately, but, taking her in his arms, held her close to his heart.