"I am both sorry and grieved," sadly remarked Mrs. Collins, "that the children of my dear Sarah should have been exposed to such influences. Fashionable lies, white lies, lies of convenience; or by whatever other name they are called, are in God's word all classed under one head, against which this fearful penalty is pronounced: 'All liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.' Among the seven crimes which God specifies as things which he hates, he classes the lying tongue and repeatedly avers, 'he that speaketh lies shall not escape.'
"You will see, at once, that a child or man who is known to speak falsely is never believed. They soon become despised of their fellows; even when they do speak the truth, no one is willing to take their word; and thus they not only merit the displeasure of their Maker, and expose themselves to his dreadful curse, but their object in telling lies is destroyed, since their very oath is disregarded."
"Dear aunt," softly murmured Ellen, "do you think God will forgive me? I never knew before what a dreadful sin lying is."
"We will ask him, my dear. We know—and how blessed is that assurance—that his word never fails."
Together they knelt, while Mrs. Collins implored the blessing and favor of God upon her penitent niece, poor Ellen's sobs bearing witness to the depth of her sorrow for sin. She prayed, too, that grace from above might be given the young girl, to assist her in keeping the resolutions she had formed; and that at last she might become perfect through the blood of her crucified Saviour.
The next morning Ellen arose early, and after begging a sheet of note-paper of her cousin, sat down to write a letter of confession to her father.
Mary was greatly pleased that the proposal came from herself; but suggested that she should make a first copy on the slate, where it could be corrected, and then written neatly on the paper.
For the next hour, the young girl bent all her energies to this task, and when, at the breakfast-table, she exhibited her epistle to her aunt, the lady gave it her decided and smiling approval.
The young girl felt that there was an especial meaning in the doctor's prayer that morning, and also in the tenderness with which he afterward patted her head, as he said,—
"God bless you, my dear girl, and help you to be a blessing to others."