THE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.
me to be different, and to wish the same thing when I am tempted, that I do when no pleasure tempts me. Pray teach me to do good.'
'My dear child, God is teaching you now.'
'What, papa? when my golden opportunity is gone, and my silver opportunity has come to nothing?'
'Quite true; but then you are doubly sure now, you know by ample experience, do you not that of yourself you can do nothing?'
I was so convinced of it, that I was verging on an opposite fault of self-confidence. I was almost doubting whether any assistance that I could hope to have would make me proof against temptation.
But now was my father's 'golden opportunity,' and he availed himself of it. Although I cannot remember his words, their influence remains to this day. Certain sensations and impressions connected with that wise and fatherly conversation return upon me often, even now. It conveyed to my mind the idea that this weakness itself was to be my strength, if it made me depend upon a stronger than myself; that this changeable disposition would make more precious to me the knowledge that 'with God is no variableness, neither shadow of changing.'
When he ceased to speak, I said, with a sorrowful sigh, 'And now, papa, there is only one penny left of all my opportunities!'
'Well, my darling,' he replied, 'it is possible that you may do acceptable good even with that. Remember what our Saviour said about the cup of cold water.'
'Yes,' I said; 'but the person who gave the cold
