For days there was little hope that her life would be spared, and a
solemn silence reigned through the house; even the romping, fun-loving
Horace and Rosie, awe-struck into stillness, and often shedding
tears--Horace in private, fearing to be considered unmanly, but Rosie
openly and without any desire of concealment--at the thought that the
darling of the house was about to pass away from earth.
Rose was filled with grief, the father, and grandfather were almost
heart-broken. But the mother! That first night she had scarcely closed an
eye, but continually her heart was going up in earnest supplications for
grace and strength to meet this sore trial with patience, calmness, and
submission.
And surely the prayer was heard and answered; day and night she was with
her suffering little one, watching beside its crib, or holding it in her
arms, soothing it with tender words of mother love, or singing, in low
sweet tones, of Jesus and the happy land.
Plenty of excellent nurses were at hand, more than willing to relieve her
of her charge; but she would relinquish it to no one; except when
compelled to take a little rest that her strength might not utterly fail
her. Even then she refused to leave the room, but lay where the first
plaintive cry, "Mamma," would rouse her and bring her instantly to her
darling's side.
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