For a few moments Rosie seemed to have a hard struggle with herself, then she sobbed, “I can’t, mamma, because—because it is true; I did peep to see what the letters were; and—and before that when we were playing hide-and-seek, and Lulu was hiding the slipper. But oh mamma, don’t look so dreadfully grieved! I didn’t really think how very wrong it was.”
Tears were coursing down Elsie’s cheeks and her bosom heaved with emotion.
“Oh mamma, dear mamma, don’t! I can’t bear to see you cry because of my wrong-doing,” sobbed Rosie, dropping on her knees by her mother’s side and throwing her arms around her.
“It almost breaks my heart, my child, to learn that one of my darlings has stepped so far aside from the path of rectitude,” returned her mother in tremulous tones, “for though you have spoken no untruthful word, you have been both untrue and dishonest in act.”
“Mamma, mamma, how can you be so cruel as to tell me that?” Rosie exclaimed, hiding her face in her mother’s lap and sobbing convulsively.
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend,” her mother said tenderly, and softly smoothing the weeper’s hair. “I must show you your sin in all its heinousness that you may see it to be hateful, repent of and forsake it, and go to Jesus for pardon and cleansing.”
“I am sorry, mamma, I don’t ever intend to do so again; I’ll confess it to God, and I have confessed it to you.”
“And do you think that is enough, my daughter?”
“O mamma, don’t say I must own it to the girls!” she entreated, “I couldn’t bear to!”
“I perceive that your conscience is telling you you ought, and I hope it will not be necessary for me to add a must,” Elsie said very gently and kindly.