“According to the teachings of God’s word sin is the greatest folly, the service of God the highest wisdom.

“’Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?...  Riches and honor are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.  My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver!

“’They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever.’

“Rosie, my darling, it is the dearest wish of my heart to see you engaged in that work; but you cannot teach others what you do not know yourself; you must first give your heart to God and learn for yourself the sweetness of his love.  Will you not do it now? at once?  Oh listen to his gracious invitation, ‘Give me thine heart.’”

For some moments a deep and solemn hush seemed to fill the room, Rosie still kneeling there with her head pillowed on her mother’s breast, Elsie’s heart going up in an almost agonizing petition for her child.

At length Rosie lifted her head looking up into her mother’s face with dewy eyes and a very sweet smile.

“Mamma,” she said in low tremulous tones, “I have tried to do it; I have asked the Lord to forgive all my sins, to cleanse me from mine iniquities, and to take me for his very own; and I think he has heard and granted my petition.

“You know when the leper came to him saying, ’Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean,’ Jesus at once put forth his hand and touched him saying, ‘I will; be thou clean’; and immediately the leprosy departed from him.  Mamma, I have been praying the leper’s prayer, and I think the dear Lord Jesus has said the same words to me.”

“I am sure of it,” Elsie said with emotion, “for he is the unchangeable God; ‘Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever’; as ready to be moved with compassion for a sin-sick soul to-day, as he was for the leper when on earth.  And he has said, ’Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.’”

Clasping her hands and looking upward, “Bless the Lord, O my soul,” she exclaimed; “‘and all that is within me, bless his holy name!’”

CHAPTER XIII.

“Lu!  Lu! five o’clock, time to get up!” called a harsh voice in loud, shrill tones.

“Who, who was calling?” asked Eva starting out of sleep.

“Only Polly,” laughed Lulu.

“Get up, get up!” screamed the bird.  “Time for breakfast.  Polly wants her coffee.  Polly wants a cracker.”

“What a smart parrot! how plainly she talks,” said Eva.

“Yes; but so loud.  I’m afraid she will wake everybody in the house.”

“How has she learned your name so soon?” asked Eva.

“I don’t think she has,” said Lulu.  “Papa says there was a girl named Louisa in the place where Polly used to live, that everybody called Lu, and the parrot learned to call her so too.”