“No, sir, I think I wouldn’t.”
“Oh, yes, I think I must take the light away, and you must shut up your eyes and go to sleep.”
So Rollo laid his cheek upon the pillow, and shut up his eyes, though they quivered a little, because he was not sleepy, and pretty soon his father went away.
The next morning, little Rollo was awakened by some one rubbing him, and when he opened his eyes he found that it was his father, whose face was close to his upon the pillow.
“Rollo,” said he, “I told you, last night, that if you would pull me and wake me up, this morning, I would tell you a little story: but you kept asleep all this time, so I had to pull you and rub you and wake you up; was not that funny?”
Rollo smiled faintly, for he was not yet quite awake.
Pretty soon he opened his eyes wide, and looked around the room. He saw that the window-curtains were very light, and he perceived that it was morning. His father then put his face to his, and said these words. He was praying to Almighty God.
“Oh, God, thou hast been in this room all night, watching and taking care of little Rollo and me while we have been asleep. We thank thee that thou hast kept us safely. Wilt thou take care of us all the day, and make us kind to all in the house. Do not let Rollo be disobedient or obstinate or ungrateful or unkind to little Lucy; and make us all good and happy, for Christ’s sake, Amen.”
Rollo was still and attentive while his father said these words. He wanted God to hear and do what his father asked.
“Rollo,” said his father, a few minutes afterwards, “what are you going to do all day to-day?”