considered a violation of God's law, although he could see no harm
in it, and therefore considered her stubborn and disobedient. He was
firm, but so was she. He tried persuasions, threats, punishments--all
without effect. He banished her from his arms, from the family circle,
deprived her of amusements, denied her to visitors, broke off her
correspondence with a valued friend, sent away her nurse; and finding
all these acts of severity ineffectual, he at length left her, telling
her he would return only when she submitted; and even refusing her a
parting caress, which she pleaded for with heart-breaking entreaties."

Mr. Dinsmore's voice trembled with emotion, but recovering himself, he
went on:

"Don't think, Miss Allison, that all this time the father's heart was
not bleeding; it was, at every pore; but he was determined to conquer,
and mistook the child's motives and the source of her strength to
resist his will.

"He had bought a beautiful estate; he caused the house to be
handsomely fitted up and furnished, especially lavishing trouble and
expense upon a suite of rooms for his little girl, and when all was
completed, he wrote to her, bidding her go and see the lovely home
he had prepared for her reception as soon as she would submit,--and
presenting, as the only alternative, banishment to a boarding-school
or convent until her education was finished. This was the one drop
which made the cup overflow. The poor suffering child was prostrated
by a brain fever which brought her to the very gates of death. Then
the father's eyes were opened; he saw his folly and his sin, and
repented in sackcloth and ashes; and God, in His great mercy, was
pleased to spare him the terrible crushing blow which seemed to have