that she had in her the elements of a noble character.

The punishment over, he took her in his arms, laying her head against
his breast. Both were silent, her tears falling like rain.

At length, with a heart-broken sob, "You hurt me terribly, papa," she
said; "I didn't think you would ever want to hurt me so."

"I did not want to," he answered in moved tones; "it was sorely against
my inclination, I cannot tell you how gladly I should have borne twice
the pain for you if so I could have made you a good girl. I know you
have sometimes troubled yourself with foolish fears that you had less
than your fair share of my affection; but I have not a child that is
nearer or dearer to me than you are, my darling. I love you very much."

"I'm so glad, papa; I 'most wonder you can," she sobbed; "and I love
you dearly, dearly; I know I've not been acting like it lately, but I
do, and just as much now as before. Oh, papa, you don't know how hard it
is for me to be good!"

"I think I do," he said; "for I am naturally quite as bad as you are,
having a violent temper, which would most certainly have been my ruin
had I not been forced to learn to control it; indeed I fear it is from
me you get your temper.

"I had a good Christian mother," he went on, "who was very faithful in
her efforts to train her children up aright. My fits of passion gave her
great concern and anxiety. I can see now how troubled and distressed she
used to look.