Christmas with Grandma Elsie | Page 9

the privilege he would accord
them of selecting the particular cause, or causes, to which the money
should go.
Eager to avail herself of the permission, and see Gracie's delight, she
sprang from her bed, ran to the door of communication between their
sleeping rooms, which generally stood open--always at night--and
peeped cautiously in.
Gracie's head was still on her pillow, but at that instant she stirred,
opened her eyes, and called out in a pleased tone, "O Lu, so you are up
first!" speaking softly though, for fear of disturbing their father and
Violet, in the room beyond, the door there being open also.
Lulu hurried to it and closed it gently, then turning toward her sister,
"Yes," she said, "but it's early, and you needn't get up just yet. I'm

coming to creep in with you for a few minutes while I tell you
something that I'm sure will please you."
She crept into Grace's bed as she spoke, and they lay for a while
clasped in each other's arms, Lulu talking very fast, Grace listening and
now and then putting in a word or two. She was quite as much pleased
with what Lulu had to tell, as the latter had anticipated.
"Oh won't it be just lovely to have so much money to do good with!"
she exclaimed when all had been told. "Haven't we got the very best
and dearest father in the world? I don't believe, Lu, there's another one
half so dear and kind and nice. We ought to be ever such good
children!"
"Yes, but I'm not," sighed Lulu. "O Gracie, I'd give anything to be as
good as you are!"
"Now don't talk so, Lu; you make me feel like a hypocrite; because I'm
not good," said Grace.
"You are; at any rate you're a great deal better than I am," asserted Lulu
with warmth. "You never disobey papa, or get into a passion; and I
don't think you love finery as I do. Gracie, I want that ring yet; oh I
should like to have it ever so much! and I oughtn't to want it; it's very
selfish, because to buy it would use up money that ought to go to send
missionaries to the heathen, or do good to some poor miserable creature;
and it's wrong for me to want it, because papa says it wouldn't be good
for me; and if I were as good as I ought to be I'd never want anything
he doesn't think best for me to have. But, oh dear, how can I help it
when I'm so fond of pretty things!"
"Lu," said Grace, softly, "I do believe that if you ask the Lord Jesus to
help you to quit wanting it, he will. But if you didn't care for it, it
wouldn't be denying yourself to do without it for the sake of the
heathen."
"Maybe so; but I don't believe papa would let me have it even if I
wouldn't consent to give it up, and begged him ever so hard for it."

"No, I s'pose not, for he loves us too well to give us anything that he
thinks will make it harder for us to love and serve God and go to
heaven when we die."
"Yes, and of course that's the best way for people to love their children.
It's time for me to get up now, but you'd better lie still a little longer."
With that Lulu slipped from the bed, ran back to her room, and
kneeling down there, gave thanks for the sleep of the past night, for
health and strength, a good home, her dear, kind father to take care of,
and provide for her, and love her, and all her many, many comforts and
blessings; and confessing her sins, she asked to be forgiven for Jesus'
sake, and to have strength given her to do all her duty that day,--to be
patient, obedient, industrious, kind and helpful to others and willing to
deny herself, especially in the matter of the ring she had been wishing
for so ardently.
When the captain came into the apartments of his little daughters for a
few minutes chat before breakfast, as was his custom, he found them
both neatly dressed and looking bright and happy.
"How are you, my darlings?" he asked, kissing them in turn, then
seating himself and drawing them into his arms.
"I think we're both very well, papa," answered Lulu.
"Yes, indeed!" said Grace, "and I'm ever so glad of what Lu's been
telling me 'bout the money you are going to give us if we're good, and
the choosing 'bout where the other shall go that you're going to give to
help send missionaries to the heathen. Thank you for both, dear papa;