"Only what, darling?" he asked, drawing her caressingly to him.
"Only, papa, if you would pray with me, like she did," she
whispered, winding her arms about his neck, and hiding her face on
his shoulder.
"That I cannot do, my pet, I have never learned how; and so I fear
you will have to do all the praying for yourself and me too," he
said, with a vain effort to speak lightly, for both heart and
conscience were touched.
The only reply was a tightening of the clasp of the little arms
about his neck, and a half-suppressed sob; then two trembling lips
touched his, a warm tear fell on his cheek, and she turned away
and ran quickly from the room.
Oh! how earnest and importunate were Elsie's pleadings at a throne
of grace that night, that her "dear, _dear_ papa might soon
be taught to love Jesus, and how to pray to Him." Tears fell fast
while she prayed, but she rose from her knees feeling a joyful
assurance that her petitions had been heard, and would be granted
in God's own good time.
She had hardly laid her head upon her pillow, when her father came
in, and saying, "I have come to sit beside my little girl till she
falls asleep," placed himself in a chair close by her side, taking
her hand in his and holding it, as she loved so to have him do.
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