Elsie's Kith and Kin eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 283 pages of information about Elsie's Kith and Kin.

Elsie's Kith and Kin eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 283 pages of information about Elsie's Kith and Kin.

“You can never enter heaven unless you gain the victory over that, as well as every other sin:  and, my daughter, there are but two places to choose from as our eternal home,—­heaven and hell; and I must use every effort to deliver your soul from going to that last—­dreadful place!”

He rose, stepped to the window where her little riding-whip still lay, came back to her; and for the next few minutes she forgot mental distress in sharp, physical pain, as the stinging, though not heavy, blows fell thick and fast on her thinly covered back and shoulders.

She writhed and sobbed under them, but neither screamed, nor pleaded for mercy.

When he had finished, he sat down again, and drew the weeping, writhing child in between his knees, put his arm about her in tender, fatherly fashion, and made her lay her head on his shoulder; but he said not a word.  Perhaps his heart was too full for speech.

Presently Lulu’s arm crept round his neck.  “Papa,” she sobbed, “I—­I do love you, and I—­I’m glad you wouldn’t let me run away,—­and that you try to save me from losing my soul.  But oh, I can’t be good!  I wish, I wish I could!” she ended, with a bitter, despairing cry.

He was much moved.

“We will kneel down, and ask God to help you, my poor, dear child,” he said.

He did so, making her kneel beside him, while, with his arm still about her, he poured out a prayer so earnest and tender, so exactly describing her feelings and her needs, that she could join in it with all her heart.  He prayed like one talking to his Father and Friend, who he knew was both able and willing to do great things for him and his.

When they had risen from their knees, she lifted her eyes to his face with a timid, pleading look.

He understood the mute petition, and, sitting down again, drew her to his knee, and kissed her several times with grave tenderness.

“I wanted a kiss so badly, papa,” she said.  “You know, it is a whole year since I had one; and you never came home before without giving me one just as soon as we met.”

“No; but I never before had so little reason to bestow a caress on you,” he said.  “When I heard of your deed of this morning, I felt that I ought not to show you any mark of favor, at least not until I had given you the punishment you so richly deserved.  Do you not think I was right?”

“Yes, sir,” she answered, hanging her head, and blushing deeply.

“I will put you in your bed now, and leave you for to-night,” he said.  “I must go back to my little suffering baby and her almost heart-broken mother.”

He led her to the bed, and lifted her into it as he spoke.

“Papa, can’t I have a piece of bread?” she asked humbly.  “I’m so hungry!”

“Hungry!” he exclaimed in surprise.  “Had you no supper?”

“No, sir, nor dinner either.  I haven’t had a bite to eat since breakfast.”

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Project Gutenberg
Elsie's Kith and Kin from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.