t," sighed Lulu. "O Gracie, I'd give anything to be as
good as you are!"

"Now don't talk so, Lu; you make me feel like a hypocrite; because I'm
not good," said Grace.

"You are; at any rate you're a great deal better than I am," asserted
Lulu with warmth. "You never disobey papa, or get into a passion; and I
don't think you love finery as I do. Gracie, I want that ring yet; oh I
should like to have it ever so much! and I oughtn't to want it; it's
very selfish, because to buy it would use up money that ought to go to
send missionaries to the heathen, or do good to some poor miserable
creature; and it's wrong for me to want it, because papa says it
wouldn't be good for me; and if I were as good as I ought to be I'd
never want anything he doesn't think best for me to have. But, oh dear,
how can I help it when I'm so fond of pretty things!"

"Lu," said Grace, softly, "I do believe that if you ask the Lord Jesus
to help you to quit wanting it, he will. But if you didn't care for it,
it wouldn't be denying yourself to do without it for the sake of the
heathen."

"Maybe so; but I don't believe papa would let me have it even if I
wouldn't consent to give it up, and begged him ever so hard for it."

"No, I s'pose not, for he loves us too well to give us anything that he
thinks will make it harder for us to love and serve God and go to heaven
when we die."

"Yes, and of course that's the best way for people to love their
children. It's time for me to get up now, but you'd better lie still a
little longer."

With that Lulu slipped from the bed, ran back to her room, and kneeling
down there, gave thanks for the sleep of the past night, for health and
strength, a good home, her dear, kind father to take care of, and
provide for her, and love her, and all her many, many comforts and
blessings; and confessing her sins, she asked to be forgiven for Jesus'
sake, and to have strength given her to do all her duty that day,--to
be patient, obedient, industrious, kind and helpful to others and
willing to deny herself, especially in the matter of the ring she had
been wishing for so ardently.

When the captain came into the apartments of his little daughters for a
few minutes chat before breakfast, as was his custom, he found them both
neatly dressed and looking bright and happy.

"How are you, my darlings?" he asked, kissing them in turn, then seating
himself and drawing them into his arms.

"I think we're both very well, papa