_Please_, papa, let me finish it to-morrow." "Elsie!" said he, in a tone a little less severe, but quite as determined, "I see that you think that because you gained your point in relation to that song that you will always be allowed to do as you like in such matters; but you are mistaken; I am _determined_ to be obeyed this time.

I would not by any means bid you do anything I considered wrong, but I can see no harm whatever in reading that book to-day; and certainly I, who have lived so much longer, am far more capable of judging in these matters than a little girl of your age.

Why, my daughter, I have seen ministers reading worse books than that on the Sabbath." "But, papa," she replied timidly, "you know the Bible says: 'They measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise;' and are we not just to do whatever God commands, without stopping to ask what other people do or say?
for don't even the best people very often do wrong ?" "Very well; find me a text that says you are not to read such a book as this on the Sabbath, and I will let you wait until to-morrow." Elsie hesitated.

"I cannot find one that says just _that_, papa," she said, "but there is one that says we are not to think our own thoughts, nor speak our own words on the Sabbath; and does not that mean worldly thoughts and words?
and is not that book full of such things, and only of such ?" "Nonsense!" he exclaimed, impatiently, "let me hear no more of such stuff! you are entirely too young and childish to attempt to reason on such subjects.

Your place is simply to obey; are you going to do it ?" "Oh, papa!" she murmured, almost under her breath, "I cannot." "Elsie," said he, in a tone of great anger, "I should certainly be greatly tempted to whip you into submission, had I the strength to do it." Elsie answered only by her tears and sobs.
There was silence for a moment, and then her father said: "Elsie, I expect from my daughter entire, unquestioning obedience, and until you are ready to render it, I shall cease to treat you as my child.