You, Grace, are looking weary, and it would be well for both you and Elsie to take a nap: Lucilla also, if she wishes," he added, with a kindly glance at her.
"Thank you, papa, but I do not care to," she answered, as the others hastened away; "the breeze makes it very pleasant here on deck." "Yes, and you can rest nicely in one of these steamer chairs." Then, taking a keener look into her face, "But something seems to be troubling you, dear child.

Tell your father what it is, that he may help and comfort you," he added, in very tender tones, taking her hands and drawing her to a seat close at his side.
"Oh, papa, it is that I am--I am afraid I have been deceiving myself and am not really a Christian," she said, with a half sob and hiding her face on his shoulders.

"There is so little, if any, of the fruit of the Spirit in me--no gentleness, goodness, meekness--though I do love Jesus and long to be like him." "In that case, dear child, I am sure you are one of his," he answered low and tenderly.

"Love is put first in the list and I have seen, to my great joy, a steady growth in you of longsuffering, gentleness, and meekness.
Jesus said, 'By their fruits ye shall know them,' and I think that, though far from perfect, yet my dear eldest daughter does show by her life that she is earnestly striving to bring forth in it the fruit of the Spirit.
'The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.' We are not made perfect in a moment, but are to grow in grace, becoming more and more like the Master, and when the work of grace is completed--so that we are made perfect in holiness--we do immediately pass into glory, to be forever with the Lord." "Yes, papa; and oh, I want you to pray for me that I may grow in grace every day and hour of my life." "I will, I do, daughter; and you must pray for your father too, for he is by no means perfect yet." "Papa, you do seem perfect to me," she said, with a look of reverent love up into his face.

"I never forget you in my prayers; never forget to thank God for giving me such a dear, kind father.