to examine their stockings--had been an
unusually long and exciting one; so that they felt ready for rest.

Grace indeed was so weary that her father carried her up to her room,
and did not leave her till she was snug in bed.

She dropped asleep the instant her head touched the pillow and he stood
for a moment gazing a little anxiously at her pale face.

"You don't think Gracie's sick, papa, do you?" asked Lulu softly.

"No, I trust she will be all right in the morning--the darling! but she
seems quite worn out now," he sighed.

Then sitting down he drew Lulu into his arms. "Has it been a happy day
with you, dear child?" he asked.

"Yes, papa, very; just full of pleasure; and now that night has come,
I'm so glad that I have my own dear papa to hug me up close, and that
he's going to sleep in the next room to Gracie and me."

"I'm glad too," he said. "Yes, we have a great deal to be thankful
for--you and I. Most of all for God's unspeakable gift--the dear Saviour
whose birth and life and death have bought all our other blessings for
us.

"My child, try to keep in mind always, even when engaged in your sports,
that you are his and must so act and speak as to bring no disgrace upon
his cause; make it your constant endeavor to honor him in all your words
and ways."

"I do mean to, papa; but oh it is so easy to forget!"

"I know it, my darling; I find it so too; but we must watch and pray,
asking God earnestly night and morning, on our knees, to keep us from
temptation and from sin, and often sending up a swift, silent petition
from our hearts at other times when we feel that we need help to
overcome.

"I want you, my little daughter, to be particularly on the watch against
your besetting sin--an inclination to sudden outbursts of passion. It
is not to be expected that everything will move on as smoothly, with so
many children and young people together, every day, as they have to-day,
and I fear you will be strongly tempted at times to give way to your
naturally quick temper."

"Oh I am afraid so too papa; and it would be perfectly dreadful if I
should!" she said with a half shudder, twining her arm round his neck
and hiding her face on his shoulder. "Oh won't you ask God to help me to
keep from it?"

"Yes, I shall, I do every night and morning, and we will ask him
together now."

CHAPTER VII.

It had been growing colder all the afternoon, and continued to do so
very rapidly through the night. The