XII.
Home Scenes.
The days of excitement and distress, so full of moment to Daph, were succeeded by a time of comparative quiet and peace.
Every morning the kind voice of Rose Stuyvesant, broke in upon the solitude of Daph and the little ones. Louise learned to look as eagerly for the face of Rose as a flower for the sunlight, and to turn as fondly towards it. There seemed to be for the little girl an irresistible charm in the refinement and guilelessness of her new friend; and the sweet words of holy teaching, that ever dropped from the lips of Rose, had waked to music, a chord in the child’s heart, that had long slumbered in silence. The sensitive conscience and peculiar interest in spiritual things, that had marked her when under her mother’s influence, became again evident. As from a weary dream, she woke to the beauty and reality of religious truth.
Rose was no sentimental teacher, contented with exciting mere feeling, that worked to no good end.
The unselfish devotion and respectful deference of poor Daph, had fostered a slight imperiousness in the little Louise; and she had learned to seek her own comfort, with but too little regard for the feelings and wishes of others.
Rose soon saw that her little pet was in danger of becoming quietly selfish, and unconsciously proud and dictatorial.
Tenderly, but faithfully, the young teacher pointed out to Louise the germs of those hateful faults, growing and strengthening in the bad soil of an evil heart; and the conscience of the child, made her deeply feel the necessity of the warning thus affectionately given.
Bad habits, long indulged, are not easily overcome, even when the highest and best motives govern the conduct.