But oh, I _can't_ be good! I wish, I _wish_ I _could!_" she ended, with a bitter, despairing cry.
He was much moved.
"We will kneel down, and ask God to help you, my poor, dear child," he said.
He did so, making her kneel beside him, while, with his arm still about her, he poured out a prayer so earnest and tender, so exactly describing her feelings and her needs, that she could join in it with all her heart.

He prayed like one talking to his Father and Friend, who he knew was both able and willing to do great things for him and his.
When they had risen from their knees, she lifted her eyes to his face with a timid, pleading look.
He understood the mute petition, and, sitting down again, drew her to his knee, and kissed her several times with grave tenderness.
"I wanted a kiss so badly, papa," she said.

"You know, it is a whole year since I had one; and you never came home before without giving me one just as soon as we met." "No; but I never before had so little reason to bestow a caress on you," he said.

"When I heard of your deed of this morning, I felt that I ought not to show you any mark of favor, at least not until I had given you the punishment you so richly deserved.

Do you not think I was right ?" "Yes, sir," she answered, hanging her head, and blushing deeply.
"I will put you in your bed now, and leave you for to-night," he said.
"I must go back to my little suffering baby and her almost heart-broken mother." He led her to the bed, and lifted her into it as he spoke.
"Papa, can't I have a piece of bread ?" she asked humbly.