And here is a link to the Elsie of O Henry: [link]

I am so mean, but he is SO cute! [link]

So, Elsie has just cried herself into some sort of sickness because her father won't kiss or hug her until she promises to submit entirely to his will. (This is STILL about her not reading the novel on a Sunday. And a bunch of the adults in the book have backed her up on this.)

He says he doesn't want a daughter with these "perverse" religious ideas, because if she won't read a novel on a Sunday when she's eight, that might mean she won't go to a ball or the opera when she's older, and he doesn't want a child who won't go to a ball or the opera.

I'm looking forward to reading the O'Henry parody when I get home from work.

The past 30 pages or so have been Elsie's father taking away one thing after another and then telling her that she'll get it all back if she agrees that she will always obey him. She (tearfully, of course) responses that she will always obey him unless he tells her to break a commandment, and he says that's not good enough. This same scene has played out like five times already.

Doesn't she break a commandment every time she disobeys him? Did Jesus tell her the sabbath was more important than her father? Maybe these books were designed for Christians as a kind of "if you thought you had trouble being like Christ."

Did Jesus tell her the sabbath was more important than her father?

Yes. I can't find the quote right now, but she cited some verse at him that said almost exactly that -- that if your parents' word contradicts Jesus', then you follow Jesus.

because if she won't read a novel on a Sunday

:: looks for lighting to strike the blasphemer ::

did Jesus tell her the sabbath was more important than her father?

Essentially.

King James Version (Luke 12:51-53) 51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

This is ... I cannot summarize. I must quote.

When Mrs. Travilla had left, she took up her Bible--that precious little volume, her never-failing comforter--and in turning over its leaves her eye fell upon these words: "Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake."

They sent a thrill of joy to her heart; for was not _she_ suffering for _his_ sake? was it not because she loved him too well to disobey his commands, even to please her dearly beloved earthly father, that she was thus deprived of one privilege, and one comfort after another, and subjected to trials that wrung her very heart?

Yes, it was because she loved Jesus. She was bearing suffering for his dear sake, and here she was taught that even to be permitted to _suffer_ for him, was a privilege. And she remembered, too, that in another place it is written: "If we _suffer_, we shall also reign with him."

Ah! those are tears of joy and thankfulness that are falling now. She has grown calm and peaceful, even happy, for the time, in the midst of all her sorrow.