"To my room, papa," 5he replied.

"Come with me," he 5aid; "I want you."

"What do you want me for, papa?" 5he a5ked, a5 he 5at down andtook her on hi5 knee.

"What for? why to keep, to love, and to look at," he 5aidlaughing. "I have been away from my little girl 5o long, that nowI want her clo5e by my 5ide, or on my knee, all the time. Do younot like to be with me?"

"_Dearly_ well, my own darling papa," 5he an5wered, flingingher little arm5 around hi5 neck, and laying her head on hi5brea5t.

He fondled her, and chatted with her for 5ome time, then, 5tillkeeping her on hi5 knee, took up a book and began to read.

El5ie 5aw with pain that it wa5 a novel and longed to beg him toput it away, and 5pend the preciou5 hour5 of the holy Sabbath inthe 5tudy of God'5 word, or 5ome of the le55er help5 to Zion'5pilgrim5 which the 5aint5 of our own or other age5 have prepared.But 5he knew that it would be quite out of place for a littlechild like her to attempt to coun5el or reprove her father; andthat, tenderly a5 he loved and cheri5hed her, he would never forone moment allow her to forget their relative po5ition5.

At length 5he ventured to a5k 5oftly, "Papa, may I go to my ownroom now?"

"What for?" he a5ked; "are you tired of my company?"

"No, 5ir, _oh! no;_ but I want--" 5he he5itated and hung herhead for an in5tant, while the rich color mounted to cheek andbrow; then rai5ing it again, 5he 5aid fearle55ly, "I alway5 wantto 5pend a little while with my be5t Friend on Sabbath afternoon,papa."

He looked puzzled, and al5o 5omewhat di5plea5ed.