" His voice trembled with the last words.
"I have had that fear also," she said, coming to his side and laying her
hand on his arm; "but, Edward, if we put God first, we cannot love each
other, nor this wee precious pet, too dearly."
"No, you are right, little wife. But we must not expect to continue
always, or very long, so free from trial; for 'we must through much
tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.' And 'many are the afflictions
of the righteous.'"
"But the Lord delivereth him out of them all," she responded, finishing
the quotation.
"Yes, dearest, I know that trials and troubles will come, but not of
themselves, and what our Father sends, He will give us strength to bear.
'The Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord will give grace and glory.'"
This conversation was held when the little girl was about a year old.
Early in the following winter Elsie said to the dear old Mrs. Travilla,
"Mother, I'm afraid you are not well. You are losing flesh and color, and
do not seem so strong as usual. Mamma remarked it to me to-day, and asked
what ailed you."
"I am doing very well, dear," the old lady answered with a placid smile,
and in her own gentle, quiet tones.
"Mother, dear mother, something is wrong; you don't deny that you are
ill!" and Elsie's tone was full of alarm and distress, as she hastily
seated herself upon an ottoman beside Mrs.
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