She told her, too, how sinful
it was to try to deceive, and then comforted her with her full and free
pardon, and said that her heavenly Father would pardon her even more freely
than her mother did, if she truly repented of her fault and asked his
forgiveness with her whole heart. Then she taught Annie to pray, "Lead me
not into temptation, but deliver me from evil;" and, although the little
one had said that prayer many times, never, never had she understood its
meaning so perfectly before: _now_ she felt her dependence on God.
Soon Susie and Mary came in with the baby; and, while they were pitying
poor Annie and asking questions, they placed the child on the bed beside
her. There it laughed and crowed merrily and stretched out its little
dimpled hands, while Annie, unable to smile in return, wondered how it
could be so happy when she was so wretched.
It was late when Mr. Allis came in; and upon examining the foot he said the
thorn would have to be cut out in the morning. In vain a soothing poultice
was applied to the wound. Annie scarcely closed her eyes all night. Worse
than that: she kept her mother awake, although she tried hard to be patient
and bear the pain as well as she could. In the morning her father sharpened
his penknife and cut out the thorn. Of course he was very careful, but it
did hurt sadly. It was many days before the poor foot got well; and I think
Annie Allis will remember her mother's "_reasons_" for refusing to go
without her shoes _for many a day_.
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