You certainly deserve punishment for your behavior this morning, and I am much inclined to say that you shall not go to church again for some time." "Please, papa, don't say that," she replied tearfully; "I will try never to do so again." "Well," he replied, after a moment's reflection, "I shall punish you to-day by depriving you of your dinner, and if you repeat the offence I shall whip you." Elsie's little face flushed crimson.
"I know it is an ignominious punishment, Elsie," said her father, "and I feel very loth to try it with you, but I greatly fear I shall be compelled to do so before I can subdue your rebellious spirit; it will be the _very last_ resort, however.

Go now to your room." This last threat might almost be said to have given Elsie a new dread; for though his words on several former occasions had seemed to imply something of the sort, she had always put away the thought as that of something too dreadful to happen.

But now he had spoken plainly, and the trial to her seemed inevitable, for she could never give the required promise, and she knew, too, that he prided himself on keeping his word, to the very letter.
Poor little girl! she felt very much like a martyr in prospect of torture or the stake.

For a time she was in deep distress; but she carried _this_ trouble, like all the rest, to her Saviour, and found relief; many precious, comforting texts being brought to her mind: "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will." "My grace is sufficient for thee." "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." These, and others of a like import, came to her remembrance in this hour of fear and dread, and assured her that her heavenly Father would either save her from that trial, or give her strength to endure it; and she grew calm and peaceful again.
"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe.".