“It will be always easy to be good when we get to heaven?”

“Yes; the last remains of the old evil nature will have been taken away, and we will have no more inclination to sin.”

“I am very glad of that! and that God gave me such a good Christian father to help me in my hard fight!  And, papa, I must tell you again that I am very, very sorry and ashamed because of my naughtiness last month.”

“Dear child, my dear humble penitent little girl!” he said tenderly, “it was all long since fully and freely forgiven.  Now good night, my darling; and good bye till next year,” he added in playful tone, kissing her fondly over and over again, “unless something unforeseen should make you want your father before morning.  In that case you will not have far to run to find him.”

“Oh no; and it makes me glad always at night to remember that you are so near, and the doors all open between our rooms, so that you could hear me if I should call out to you, papa.  I know you wouldn’t be displeased at being wakened if I were in trouble and needed you.”

“No, indeed, daughter; in that case I should be only too glad to be roused that I might hasten to your assistance.

“But let your greatest rejoicing be in the thought that you and I and all of us are under the care of Him who neither slumbers nor sleeps.  ’It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.’”

Rosie in her mamma’s room, which she shared at this time, as on a former occasion, was preparing for bed, Grandma Elsie quietly reading in an easy chair beside the fire.

Presently Rosie went to the side of the chair and dropping on her knees on the carpet, looked up smilingly into the sweet placid face bent over the book.

“Mamma, dear, I have come for my good night kiss before getting into bed,” she said softly, adding sportively, “the last I shall solicit from you this year.”

“And you are going to be satisfied with one?” her mother asked letting the book fall into her lap, while she laid one hand gently on her young daughter’s head and gazed tenderly down into the blooming face; with a somewhat sad expression too, Rosie thought.

“I say, no to that, mamma,” she returned, laying her head in her mother’s lap and taking into her own the hand that had been resting on it, to press it again and again to her lips with ardent affection, “for I shall not be satisfied with less than half a dozen.”

Elsie gave them in quick succession, gathering her child in her arms and making her rest her fair head on the maternal bosom, and Rosie felt a warm tear fall on her cheek.

“Mamma!” she exclaimed in concerned surprise, “you are crying!  What can be the matter? have I said or done anything to grieve you, dear heart?” reaching up an arm to clasp her mother’s neck, while she scanned the loved features with earnest, tender scrutiny.