As the carriage started, the captain put an arm round Lulu, drew her close to him, and smiling affectionately down into her face, said:  “How glad I am to be able to keep one of my loved flock with me!”

“And oh, how glad I am that I’m the one, you dear, dear papa!” responded the little girl, returning his loving look and smile.  Then, with a sigh, “I think there are some fathers who wouldn’t be very fond of even their own child, if she were so often ill-tempered and disobedient.  Papa, I’ve been thinking all day that you didn’t punish me half so severely as I deserved for my naughtiness yesterday.”

“I would rather err on that side than the other, daughter,” he said, in tender tones, “and I hope your future behavior will be such as to prove that the slight punishment inflicted was all-sufficient.”

“I hope so, indeed, papa,” she answered earnestly, “but if I am disobedient and ill-tempered again soon, you will be more severe with me, won’t you?  I really want you to, that I may improve.”

“Yes, daughter, I think I must,” he replied a little sadly; then after a moment’s silence went on again:  “I expect to pay a little visit to Max in January, and if my eldest daughter has been a good and obedient child——­” He paused, looking smilingly at her.

“You will take me with you, papa?” she cried half-breathlessly.  “Oh, how I should like it!  Ah, I do hope I shall not be so bad that you will have to leave me behind.”

“No, I hope not.  I want to take you; to share the pleasure of my dear eldest daughter will double it to me, and if neither bad conduct on your part, nor anything else happens to prevent, you shall go with me.”

“Oh, thank you, dear papa!” she exclaimed, her cheeks glowing and her eyes sparkling with delight, “you are so good to me that I just hate myself for ever doing anything to vex or grieve you.”

“My dear child,” he said with emotion, “be more watchful, careful, and prayerful; fight more earnestly and determinately the good fight of faith, ever looking to God for help, for only so may you hope to gain the victory at last, and to be able to say, ’in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.’”

“I will try, papa,” she said, tears starting to her eyes, “but oh, it is such a hard fight for anybody with a temper like mine.  Please help me all you can by praying for me, and punishing me too, whenever you see that I need it.”

“I will do all I can for you, my darling, in every way,” he replied, “but as I have often told you, the hardest part of the conflict must inevitably be your own.

“Cling close to Jesus, and cry to him every day and every hour for help, for only by his all-powerful assistance can we hope to win holiness and heaven at last.”

“I will try, papa, I will indeed,” she said.  “I am, oh, so glad and thankful that he will let me cling to him and that he promises his help to those who ask him for it.”