so sweet to your child; and think not for one moment
that you are not fulfilling God's plan concerning you or that moments
thus spent are wasted. It is only a short time at best that we can be
blessed with the privilege of instructing our children.

CHAPTER XI.

CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE.

As Bessie grew older, Mrs. Worthington chose the twilight hour for
confidential talks with her daughter. Both looked forward to these times
with pleasure. Each evening after the daily duties were ended, Bessie
might be found sitting at her mother's feet. Here she related the many
happenings of the day and in turn received instruction and advice from
the one who held her confidence. Here the mother taught her child the
secret of true devotion. She instructed Bessie that prayer, good
reading, and meditation are the keys to use to unlock God's great
storehouse of blessings. She pointed to the Bible as a pattern by which
to fashion one's life, pointing out to her the many scriptures bearing
upon different subjects and telling her how every modest, earnest
Christian ought to dress and act in order to adorn the gospel of
Christ. She encircled the word "purity" with such a halo of glory that
she awakened within the heart of her child a determination ever to live
so pure a life that she would not only keep herself stainless but also
help others to that sacred and elevated plane.

Upon one of these occasions, when Bessie was in her twelfth year, she
said: "Mama, why don't we go to the meetings that are being held at the
schoolhouse on Sunday? The girls have asked me several times, and I have
told them I didn't know. They have a minister from a distance, and he
has taken the names of all who want to join the church."

"That is a deep subject, my child," said Mrs. Worthington. "I have often
wished to explain to you my reasons for not attending the public
services held in our neighborhood by the different denominations, but
have feared you were still too young to understand, for the matter seems
hard even for some older persons to comprehend. But I will tell you and
trust the Lord to make it plain.

"My parents taught me that it was my duty to attend religious services
at least once a week. This I did, and professed to be a Christian until
I was a young woman. I knew that I loved the Lord and wanted to do
right, but found that I could not always do right in my own strength. I
was daily doing things that displeased the Lord. I became so t