On seeing her again towards evening, I found that the expression of her
sick face--the weary, exhausted look of one grappling with a stronger
power--had passed away, and, in exchange, there was peace, and even
happiness. She began herself to say, "When you told me this forenoon
that I could not live, it surprised me; but I have come to it now, and
it is all right. Every thing is settled. I have nothing to do--no fear,
no anxiety about any thing. More passages of Scripture and verses of
hymns have come to my mind to-day, than in all my sickness hitherto."
Wishes respecting some family arrangements were then expressed,
particularly with reference to the younger children, and these wishes
were uttered in about the same tone and manner as though we were parting
for a temporary absence from each other. The mother of my youngest child
had, at her death, given her in special charge to this daughter, and she
wished to live that she might educate her. She made the transfer of her
little trust with calmness, and then her "Good night" was uttered with a
gentle playfulness, like that of her early days.
Nor was her frame of mind an excitement, or a fictitious experience, to
end with sleep. The next forenoon she renewed the conversation. She
said, "In the night I awoke many times, and always with this thought--I
am not going to live. Instead of fear and dread, peace came with it.
Names of Christ flowed in upon my mind; and once I awoke with these
words in my thoughts--'And there shall be no night there.' Now I know
that I am to die, I feel less nervous. I have a calm, unruffled
feeling." She expressed some natural apprehensions, only, about the
possibility of dissolution not having occurred when we should suppose
that she was no more. I told her how kindly God had ordered it that we
do not all die together, but one by one, the survivors doing all that
the departed would desire--which satisfied her, and removed her only
fear.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account