Elsie's New Relations

tified, and by thy words thou s

r the house Max

said, "and there is no government letter for you yet. I'm so g

children," the captain responded, "but cannot

college," pursued Max, "and we're all to take tea in there, Mamma

ho, with little Grace, was waiting for him on the veranda. He stopped there to speak

y book, Lu

ding it and took it away from me. And he told me

arm. "I sha'n't do that," he said, "if I

not to, and he said he wouldn't. But he threw the book into the sea, and said neit

of my going to him for it? I

er dime novel which he had been reading that afternoon; he had not quite finished it, and was eager to do so; he wanted very much to know how the story

the tempter; "as having read so mu

of disobedience not very long ago," said conscience; "the dear father who mus

in a cheery tone, then laying his hand affectionately on the boy's shoulder. "Come in

x, following him in

ain, throwing off his coat, pouring water into the

repeated, then stammered out the title of the book,

u get it?" as

at a news-s

ore of that kind, Max; you m

hould not this time if you h

your father," the captain said in a grave but kindly tone; "and yet I think you suspected

brush in hand, and as he spoke he paused in

's face he said frankly, "Yes, papa, I believe I was afraid you would take the book from me

oping there will be no repetition of either offence. Now go to your room, gather up all the doubtful reading ma

Max, his countenance brightening wonderfully,

said to himself, as he bounded up the stairs. "I'll n

with two dime novels and a s

took what Max had brought, and glancing hastily over i

not read any more such, since you've forbi

you don't think I would want to depri

y I know why you won't l

I want you to be a reader, but of good and wholesome literature; books that will give you useful information and good moral teachings; above all things, my son, I would

know I hear you read it e

een grieved to see that you

"Papa, I will try t

t by them, remembering that we shall have to render an account at last of the use or abuse of all our privileges. I

ad? You will let me have some story-boo

n history; and there are fictitious stories that will do you good and not harm. I shall take care in future that you have plenty of wholesome mental food, so t

the least little bit of

asked his father, w

e, because it is better tha

ar these into bits and let

aid, with a roguish look into his father's face, "d

not the slightest inclination to read them. Bring me

t attracted his attention; he paused and glanced over several pages one after the other, till Max began to think he had become in

y anything like this, for it is full of profanity; and reading or hearing such expr

red and pale by turn

as his father'

ften,

d words. "Not often? sometimes, then?" he

d! I'll never do it again,"

uld sooner lay him under the sod, knowing that his soul was in heaven, than ha

oy ob

rth chapter of Leviticus, a

be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him; as well the stranger, as

ty-third," sa

g forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with st

finishing the verse, and

in the Bible. I never thought about its b

o has done it again and again? say as of

s ever put to death for swearing nowadays?" the boy said, ha

ou were my father and I a boy of your age, and that I had be

ging," he answered, in

word again," said his father, in a grave, sad tone. "I should do it now, but for the h

, papa," he sa

k or story that has in it anything of that kind. And you are not to say by George or by anything. Our Saviour says, 'Let your communication be Y

, s

nce to your r

n he came down again to find

I must have a little more talk with you on this subject, but not now, for it is time we