But in the night the pain grew so severe that she could not keep from crying and groaning.  She did not want to wake any one, so buried her face in the pillow to smother the sound of her sobs; but presently a gentle hand touched her caressingly, and mamma’s sweet voice asked, “What ails my little daughter?”

“O mamma I did not mean to wake you!” cried the little girl sitting up with her hand pressed to her cheek, “but the pain was so bad I couldn’t help making a noise.”

“My poor dear little girl! did you think your mother would want to sleep when her child was in pain?” Elsie said, clasping her in her arms.  “No, indeed! so do not try to bear any pain alone another time.”

Mamma’s loving sympathy was very sweet; the pain was soon relieved, too, by some medicine she put into the tooth, and presently all was forgotten in sound refreshing sleep.

Elsie came into her mamma’s dressing-room the next morning, along with the others, looking as bright and well as was her wont, yet with the boding fear that something would be said to her about having the troublesome tooth extracted.

However to her relief the subject was not broached at all; they had their usual reading and prayer, recitation of texts and talk with mamma about the lessons contained in them, and then the breakfast bell summoned them to their morning meal.

The tooth was quiet for a few days, then ached again for several hours harder than ever.

“O mamma, mamma, what shall I do?” sobbed the child in the midst of her pain.

“Couldn’t my little girl pluck up courage enough to have it out?” asked the mother tenderly.

“O mamma, don’t say I must! please don’t; I’m so frightened at the very thought!”

“Ah, if I could only bear it for you, my darling! but you know I cannot.”

“No, dear mamma, and I couldn’t be so selfish as to let you, if you could.  But must I have it out?”

“I have not said so; I should far rather my dear daughter would say must to herself.”

“Ought I, mamma?”

“Ought you not?  The tooth has become only a source of pain and trouble to you; if left it will cause the others to decay, and decayed teeth injure the health.  Health is one of God’s best gifts and it is our duty to use every means in our power to preserve it.”

“Yes, mamma, but oh, I’m so afraid!” cried the child, trembling and weeping.

“My darling, resolve to do your duty with God’s help, and he will fulfill his promise to you.  ‘As thy days so shall thy strength be.’”

Little Elsie had long ago given her heart to Jesus; love to him was the ruling motive of her life, and to please and honor him she was ready to do or endure anything.  “I will try, mamma,” she said, “and you too will ask God to help me?”

Mamma gave the promise, sealing it with a very tender kiss.

Mr. Ross was going down to New York the next morning, and it was soon arranged that his wife, Mrs. Travilla and little Elsie, should accompany him.