“The Bible,” he replied, “bids us ‘Pray without ceasing,’ not meaning that we are to live on our knees, or with words of prayer always on our lips, for that would be impossible without neglecting other duties enjoined in God’s Word—such, for example, as ‘Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work,’ ‘Distributing to the necessity of saints,’ and so forth—but that we are to live near to God and with so much of the spirit of prayer in our hearts that they will be often sending up swift, silent petitions, or songs of praise and thankfulness.
“Well, Lulu, I know you are curious to hear what Max and I were conversing about last night.”
“Oh, yes, sir, indeed! if you are willing I should know,” she responded eagerly.
“Quite willing,” he said. “It was of his choice of a business or profession. I had received a letter offering an appointment for my son as a naval cadet; so, as I wish Max to choose for himself, it was necessary for him to decide, and to do so promptly, whether he would accept that offer or decline it.”
“Oh! which did he choose to do, papa?”
“He said he had quite made up his mind to go into the navy, if he might, and asked me to write an acceptance for him; which I did before I went to my bed.”
“You are always so prompt, papa,” remarked Lulu, putting her arm round his neck and gazing with loving admiration into his face.
“Yes,” he said, “I must try to be all I would have my children, for ‘example is better than precept.’”
“And Maxie will have to go away and not be in school with us any more?” Grace said, half-inquiringly, tears filling her eyes.
“Yes, daughter,” her father answered with a slight sigh; “boys can’t be always kept at home; but I hope to keep my girls a long while yet,” he added, drawing them into a close embrace as he spoke.