"Well may I bear joyfully all He sends; for your light affliction, which
is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory; and He has said, 'When thou passest through the waters, I
will be with thee: and through the floods, they shall not overflow thee:
when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned, neither shall
the flames kindle upon thee.'"
"And He is faithful to His promises. But we will not let you die yet, my
mother, if anything in the wide world can save you. There are more skilful
physicians than Dr. Barton; we will consult them----"
"My son, the disease is one the whole profession agree in pronouncing
incurable, and to travel would be torture. No, be content to let me die at
home, with you and this beloved daughter to smooth my dying pillow, our
wee precious pet to wile away the pain with her pretty baby ways, and my
own pastor to comfort me with God's truth and sweet thoughts of heaven."
Elsie looked the question her trembling lips refused to utter.
"I shall not probably leave you soon," said the old lady. "It is a slow
thing, the doctor tells me, it will take some time to run its course."
Elsie could scarce endure the anguish in her husband's face. Silently she
placed herself by his side, her arm about his neck, and laid her cheek to
his.
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