without telling you so
again."

"Well, daughter, it was all forgiven long ago, and you have been a pretty
good girl most of the time since that first sad week."

"Papa, I do want to be good," she said earnestly, "but somehow the badness
will get the better of me."

"Yes; each one of us has an evil nature to fight against," he said, "and
it will get the better of us unless we are very determined and battle with
it, not in our own strength only, but crying mightily for assistance to
Him who has said, 'In me is thine help.'

"We must watch and pray, my child. The Bible bids us keep our hearts with
all diligence, and set a watch at the door of our lips that we sin not
with our tongues. Also to pray without ceasing. We need to cry often to
God for help to overcome the evil that is in our own hearts, and the
snares of the world and the devil, 'who goeth about as a roaring lion
seeking whom he may devour.'"

"Papa," she said, looking up into his face, "do you find it hard to be
good sometimes?"

"Yes, my child; I have the same battle to fight that you have, and I am
the more sorry for you because I know by experience how difficult it
sometimes is to do right."

"And you have to help me by punishing me when I'm naughty, and making me
do as I ought?"

"Yes, and my battle is sometimes for patience with a naughty, disobedient
child."

"I think you were very patient with me that time you kept me shut up so
long in this room," she said. "If I'd been in your place I'd have got a
good switch and whipped my little girl till I made her obey me at once."

"Do you think that would have been the better plan?"

"No, sir. I think you'd have had to 'most kill me before I'd have given
up, but if I'd been in your place I couldn't have had patience to wait."

"You need to cultivate the grace of patience, then," he said gravely. "Now
come with me to Max's room, and let us see if we can pack up his goods and
chattels."

"Papa, I almost think I could pack it myself after watching you pack all
these others."

"Possibly; but I shall do it more quickly, with you to help in getting all
the things together."

Every one was ready in due season for departure, and that night the two
cottages that for months past had been so full of light and life, were
dark, silent and deserted.

Arriving in Boston, the whole party took rooms at one of the principal
hotels. There they spent the night, but the greater part of the next day
was passed o