A Woman's Life-Work — Labors and Experiences of Laura S. HavilandHaviland, Laura S. (Laura Smith)
Religion
A Woman's Life-Work — Labors and Experiences of Laura S. Haviland
Haviland, Laura S. (Laura Smith)
Freed persons; Haviland, Laura S. (Laura Smith), 1808-1898; Underground Railroad
But I could not be satisfied without going to see my dear father once
more, and yet, the pleading of my dear children was almost too much to
forego. "We have just lost our father; now what should we do if our
mother should be taken from us?" "But if I am rolled in quilts and laid
on a bed in the wagon, I am confident I can be taken to father's house
safely"--distant nearly three miles. In this way I was taken to my
dying father, though unable to walk across the room without assistance.
As soon as he learned of my coming, he directed them to lay me on the
bed until I was rested. In a few minutes he sent them to bring me to
him. As my son and brother led me to his bedside, he placed the cold
purple fingers over my pulse, and said, "I am so glad to see thee, but
I feared it would be too much for thee to bear. There is a little
feverish excitement about thee yet. I am more concerned for thee than
for the rest of my children, on account of thy large family, that will
so much need their mother's counsel and care. I want to say to thee,
Look up to the widow's God for guidance, for wisdom from him is so much
needed, with the heavy responsibilities now resting upon thee. Do not
allow these bereavements to crush thy feeble frame. I have feared they
had already seriously affected thy health. I know thy anxiety to bring
up thy children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And he will
grant ability to lead them to the Lamb of God, who shed his precious
blood for us all." With other advice, he became weary, and said, "Now
take her back to the other room, and lay her on the bed until rested."
And during the few hours he lived he frequently sent for me to talk a
few minutes at a time, watching my pulse each time, until within a few
moments of the last farewell to earth.
There were six of his children present, to whom he gave his farewell
blessing, leaving a bright evidence that all was well with him. "In me
there is no merit. I am fully trusting in the merit of my crucified
Savior, who shed his own precious blood for my redemption. I can say
with Job, 'I know that my Redeemer lives,' and because he lives I shall
live also." His last words, almost with his last breath, were, "Here
she comes," and left this tabernacle for the building not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens. Father and mother were lovely in their
lives, and in their death were only two weeks divided. It seemed that
my last earthly prop was gone. Three weeks later my youngest child
followed her father and grandparents to the spirit home. Within six
weeks, five of my nearest and dearest ones were taken from me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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