ot unless you make me, Padre," Carmen quickly replied, rising and
confronting the priest with a demeanor whose every element spelled
rebuke.

"Well, I certainly shall not _make_ you!" the man exclaimed in
surprise.

"No, Padre. God will not let you. He does not burn or hurt people."

"Certainly not! But--"

"And nothing else can, for He is everywhere--isn't He?"

"Well--perhaps so," the priest retorted impatiently. "But somehow
people get burnt and hurt just the same, and it is well to be
careful."

The child studied him for a moment. Then she said quietly--

"I guess people burn and hurt themselves because they are afraid--don't
they? And I am not afraid."

She tossed her brown curls as if in defiance of the thought of fear.
Yet Jose somehow felt that she never really defied evil, but rather
met its suggestions with a firm conviction of its impotence in the
presence of immanent good. He checked the impulse to further
conversation. Bidding the child come to him as soon as possible to
begin the day's work, he went back to his own abode to reflect.

He had previously said that this child should be brought up to know no
evil. And yet, was he not suggesting evil to her at every turn? Did
not his insistence upon the likelihood of hurting or burning herself
emphasize his own stalwart belief in evil as an immanent power and
contingency? Was he thus always to maintain a house divided against
itself? But some day she _must_ know, whether by instruction or dire
experience, that evil is a fact to be reckoned with! And as her
protector, it was his duty to--But he had not the heart to shatter
such beautiful confidence!

Then he fell to wondering how long that pure faith could endure.
Certainly not long if she were subjected to the sort of instruction
which the children of this world receive. But was it not his duty with
proper tutelage to make it last as long as possible? Was it not even
now so firmly grounded that it never could be shaken?

He dwelt on the fact that nearly all children at some period early in
life commune with their concept of God. He had, himself. As a very
young child he had even felt himself on such terms of familiarity with
God that he could not sleep without first bidding Him good night. As a
young child, too, he had known no evil. Nor do any children, until
their perfect confidence in good is chilled by the false instruction
of parents and teachers, who parade evil before them in all its
hideou