"During the morning she spoke several times about the probabilities of life. 'God knows the best time,' she said; 'but, if I am to go now, I do not wish to linger long.' She had been able, she said, to do but little for years, and there was not much reason for her living--but she would be glad to stay longer for the children's sake. At one time she remarked, in substance: 'I have tried all along to do right; I don't know that I should be able to do better if the life was to be lived over again.'" "Saturday noon, March 20. "It is a privilege that I never knew before to watch and wait in a sick chamber where one is in sympathy and contact with the spirit that is mounting upward. It does seem as if the pins of the tabernacle were indeed being taken out one by one, and the taking of it down is beautiful--how much more beautiful will be its rebuilding! "Anna and I watched the first part of last night--or, rather, she watched, and I lay on the lounge and got up to help her. In the latter part, Alfred took Anna's place. So we watch and wait. Her mind-wandering continues at intervals, and she complains of her dulness--_so stupid_, she says. Christ, she says, has been near to her all winter, and is now. A little while ago, she remarked that she had been once, at St. Anthony, as low as she is now, and God had restored her. So she wanted us to pray that God would restore her yet again. This forenoon she had a talk with Henry, Robbie, and Cornelia separately. When Mr. Warner came in, she asked to see him, and said she hoped to have seen him under different circumstances than the present--and then commended Anna to his gentle care." "Saturday evening. "One feels so powerless by the side of a sick loved one! How we would like to make well, if we could! But the fever continues to burn, and we can only look on. Then the mind wanders and fastens on all kinds of impossible and imaginary things. We would set that right, but we can not. Dr. Taggart has just been here, and speaks encouragingly of your mother. He thinks if we can keep her along until the fever runs its course, then careful nursing will bring her up again. The neighbors are very kind in offering us help and sympathy." "Sabbath morning. "The mother is still here. But the hopes Dr. Taggart encouraged are not likely to be realized. Alfred and I watched with her until after midnight, and Mrs. Bushnell and Anna the rest of the night. As the _bourbon_ continued to be so distasteful, the doctor substituted _wine_; but that was no more desirable.