"Do you often have him troublesome?" asked Ada, noticing a shade upon Christina's usually calm face. "Yes; he is very difficult to manage; but I have found out now what to do when he is naughty. I take no notice of him at all." "Does he care for that?" asked Ada. "Oh, dear, yes, in the end. But it always makes me sorrowful when they are naughty, so you must not mind, Ada." "Is Maggie ever tiresome?" "Never to me. She is the sweetest little thing, and so well brought up. Oh, if all were like Maggie, there would be no trouble. But sometimes Margaret fears whether she has will enough of her own." "Oh, dear!" said Ada. "One has too much, and one too little. Why, Christina, I am always struggling because I have too much." Christina smiled sympathizingly. "Yes, Ada; so it is." "Now at home," pursued Ada, "I do dislike to give in to Nellie, dearly as I love her. She is so methodical, and nice, and wise; and I am 'harum-scarum,' and full of spirits, and when I am wild to do some outlandish thing, she advises me not—almost commands me—says mamma would not wish it; and then up rises my will, and I can't give in." "But Nellie does not do it to destroy your pleasure, dear Ada, I am sure. Can you not try to consider whether it would be your mamma's wish?" "I do, Christina; but don't you think it is a little hard to be ruled by elder sisters?" "I daresay it is," answered Christina; "but I often wish I had one." "Well, I am afraid I'm not a good temper, and that makes me so annoyed over little things." "So you feel it is like a sore place that you have just got to bear." Ada looked up at the tone in which Christina said this, and found there was a glimmer of a smile in her eyes. "Well, what else can I do?" she asked, a little nettled. "When we have sore places, what do we do?" "Bear them." "Nothing else?" "Not that I know of." "Do we not seek a cure?" "There's no cure for bad temper." "Is there not? Is there no balm that can be applied? No touch that can soothe and heal?" "Oh, well," said Ada, softening, "I daresay there is in that way. But do you really think now, Christina, that if I felt a bad temper coming, I could get it cured before it got beyond me?" "Yes; if you were willing to have it cured, most certainly. Try it, Ada. "'Come unto Me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.'" "I'll remember that," said Ada, with that tenderness in her face which Christina loved to see in the proud young girl. So she kissed her lovingly, and they went down stairs. Christina went through the dining-room purposely, and entered the play-room from that way. Margaret was at work, baby Alice slept in a crib in the corner, and Maggie was seated at the table doing her lessons.