CHAPTER XVI.
Day had fully dawned before the Woodburn household was astir, and it was long past his accustomed hour when the captain paid his usual morning visit to his little daughters.
He found them up and dressed and ready with a glad greeting.
"Were you able to sleep, my darlings ?" he asked, caressing them in turn.
"Oh yes, indeed, papa, we slept nicely," they answered.
"And feel refreshed and well this morning ?" "Yes, papa; thank you very much for letting us sleep so long." "I allowed myself the same privilege," he said pleasantly.

"We will have no school to-day, I have already been notified that there will be a preliminary examination of the prisoners, before the magistrate this morning, and that you, Lulu, and Max and I must attend as witnesses." "I'd rather not go, papa; please don't make me," pleaded Lulu.
"My child, it is not I, but the law that insists," he said; "but you need not feel disturbed over the matter; you have only to tell a straightforward story of what you heard and saw and did in connection with the attempted robbery.
"I am very glad, very thankful," he went on, "that I have always found my little daughter perfectly truthful." "Max too, papa." "Yes, Max too; and when you give your testimony I want you to remember that God--the God of truth, who abhors deceit and the deceitful, and who knows all things--hears every word you say." Taking up her Bible and opening it at the twenty-fourth psalm, he read, "He that hath clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully, he shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation." Then turning to the twenty-first chapter of Revelation, "All liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone." Closing the book and laying it aside, "My dear children," he said earnestly and with grave tenderness, "you see how God hates lying and deceit; how sorely he will punish them if not repented of and forsaken.
Speak the truth always though at the risk of torture and death; never tell a lie though it should be no more than to assert that two and two do not make four.
"Be courteous to all so far as you can without deceit, but never, _never_ allow your desire to be polite to betray you into words or acts that are not strictly truthful." The children were evidently giving very earnest heed to their father's words.
"Papa," said Grace, sighing and hiding her blushing face on his shoulder, "you know I did once say what was not true; but I'm very, very sorry.

I've asked God many times to forgive me for Jesus' sake and I believe he has." "No doubt of it, my darling," returned her father; "for, 'if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'" "I don't believe Lu ever did," said Grace.

"She's a great deal better girl than I am." "No, it is not that I am better than you," was Lulu's emphatic dissent from that.

"It's only that I am not timid like you; if I had been, it's very likely I'd have told many an untruth to hide my faults and keep from being punished." "The telephone bell is ringing, papa," announced Max, looking in at the door.
The call was from Ion; a vague report of last night's doings at Woodburn having just reached the family there, they were anxious to learn the exact truth.
The captain gave the facts briefly and suggested that some of the Ion friends drive over and hear them in detail.
It was replied that several of them would do so shortly; Grandma Elsie among them, and that she would spend the day, keeping Violet company during her husband's absence at Union, if, as she supposed, Vi's preference should be for remaining at home.
"Of course it will," said Violet, who was standing near.