Ella was wiping away her tears. She never could talk much of her mother without crying. "No, Miss Layton," said she, "aunt Prudence says I am the worst child she ever saw, and I know I'm very naughty; but it's no use to try to be good, for I can't do it. I used to be good when my mother was living, but I can't be good without her to help me."
"Ah, Ella, that is quite a mistake. Your mother could not make you good, if she were here, for she could have no power to change your heart, and make you hate the evil, and love the good. God alone can do that, and though your mother has been taken away from you, he is ever living, and ever present, and if you ask him for help—ask with your heart, and for Jesus' sake—he will hear and help you."
"But, Miss Layton, I was a pretty good girl when my mother was alive; even aunt Prudence says so."
"That may be so, but I think it was only because you had not so many temptations to do wrong. Your mother probably knew better how to manage you, and keep you out of the way of temptation, than your aunt does; but you had the same wicked heart then that you have now, and if you behaved well only because you had no temptation to do otherwise, you were not really any better than you are now. God looks not merely at the outward conduct, but at the heart, at the motives, and unless you do right from a desire to serve and honour him, he can see nothing good in you. Ask him, my dear child, to give you right feelings, and right motives, and to help you to perform every duty from an earnest desire to please him."
CHAPTER III.
"You are waiting for me, are you, Ellie?" said Miss Layton, as she locked the school-room door, and turning to go, saw the little girl standing near, while her young companions were nearly all already out of sight.
"Yes, ma'am," replied Ella; "I would rather walk with you, if you will let me."
"Certainly, my dear child; I am always pleased to have your company. You have done well to-day, my dear little girl; your lessons were well recited, and your behaviour has been all that I could wish; and indeed, I might say almost as much of all the days since your bad day, which was nearly three weeks ago. I am very glad to be able to praise you."