"O papa!" she said, dropping her head on his breast while the
bright drops fell like rain down her cheeks, "would you have been
so very sorry?"
"Sorry, darling! do you not know that you are more precious to me
than all my wealth, all my friends and relatives put together?
Yes, I would rather part with everything else than lose this one
little girl," he said, kissing her again and again.
"Dear, _dear_ papa! how glad I am that you love me so much!"
she replied; and then relapsed into silence.
He watched her changing countenance for some time, then asked,
"What is it, darling?"
"I was just thinking," she said, "whether I was ready to go to
heaven, and I believe I was; for I know that I love Jesus; and
then I was thinking how glad mamma would have been to see me;
don't you think she would, papa?"
"I can't spare you to her yet," he replied with emotion, "and I
think she loves me too well to wish it."
As Miss Day had not yet returned, Elsie's time was still pretty
much at her own disposal, excepting when her papa gave her
something to do; so, after breakfast, finding that he was engaged
with some one in the library, she took her Bible, and seeking out
a shady retreat in the garden, sat down to read.
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