of the water. By this time both were thoroughly frightened; for while
visiting one of the parks in Chicago once, they had seen a bear hug his
keeper until he could not stand. Bessie remembered the incident and
tried to help Louise to hurry; but when the tree shook again, this time
just above her, she screamed wildly and ran a few steps alone. When she
got past the danger-point her reason returned, and, looking back, she
saw her sister's great danger, as she stood just beneath the fatal tree.
Rushing back, she almost carried Louise (while the growling continued),
and they were soon up the hill. In the house they told of their strange
experience, the substance of the story being, "The bear; The bear!"

Mr. Worthington soon joined the excited circle and secretly explained to
his wife that he had been the supposed bear and that he had taken this
course to teach the children a lesson. His plan was successful, for
after that the children did not care to go to the lake alone.

Mrs. Worthington, however, was very sad because her children had been
deceived. Unlike her husband, who was not a Christian, she believed in
keeping the confidence of her children and in praying with them when
they were disobedient. She decided to be more prompt and watchful in the
future and to shield them from temptation as much as possible.

She improved the opportunity for some wholesome instruction. From the
stories of Jonah and King Saul she brought forth some excellent lessons
on disobedience. She told the children that, although they might think
when tempted to disobey that nobody saw them, yet there was one whose
eye was ever beholding their deeds, whether good or bad. Then she knelt
in prayer with her children, praying with a full heart to that God who
is everywhere present and from whom all our strength must come, that he
would teach her how to guide the precious souls entrusted to her care.