"My darlings," said Mrs. Bradford that night, when she had gone upstairs with the children, "what are you going to do now?"
"To say our prayers, mamma," answered Bessie, rather surprised at the question.
"What prayers, Maggie?"
"Why, 'Now I lay me,' and 'Pray God bless,' and 'Our Father which art in Heaven,'" said Maggie.
"And when we say 'Our Father,' what do we say about forgiveness?"
"'Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,'" said Bessie. "I know what you mean, mamma."
"And so do I," said Maggie; "but I cannot do it, mamma, I cannot forgive Lem and Dolly as I want to be forgiven myself, so I think I had better leave out that part of 'Our Father,' to-night. I wouldn't like to pray a story."
"Nor would I wish you to say what you did not feel, dearie, but I should like you to pray that from your heart."
"But I could not, mamma," said Maggie. "Why, we have forgiven Lem and Dolly so often, and it is not a bit of use."