At last he spoke again.
"I could tell you something, but I don't think you would understand me.
If a man doesn't get along well in life, and he thinks that God can help him but does not, he says to himself that there's no use in praying, and he must help himself as he can; and so he grows reckless and does things that are wrong and that he shouldn't do; then when he comes to die, and he has not thought for a long time anything about God and Heaven, then the door of Paradise does not open to him, and he cannot go in to that happy life.

But why do I talk to you of this?
You cannot understand." But Elsli did understand partly, for she remembered hearing her step-mother once say it was easy enough for those to pray who had all they wanted, for they could see that God helped them; but he had never helped her.

And Elsli could hear again the sorrowful tones of her father's voice as he answered:-- "If we think that, it will be worse and worse for us; that is not the right way to think." These thoughts made Elsli very sad; but presently she roused herself and said she would go into the house and see if she could do something for the sick woman; she would come back by and by, and help him into the house again.

The old man would not let her go, however; he drew her down again upon the fallen tree on which he was sitting.
"No, no; stay here," he said.

"Let us talk a little more; you are wise for your age.