CHAPTER IV.
"Never morning woreTo evening, but some heart did break."
TENNYSON.
Laura lingered at Newport for several weeks after the arrival of Lesterand Elsie at Crag Cottage; so that the brothers had abundance of time andopportunity for private talks and business arrangements, and Evelyn topractise the role of hostess.
When at last she did reach home, she was greatly shocked at the change inher husband; and she heaped reproaches upon poor Evelyn for not givingher more faithful reports of his condition.
"Mamma," said the little girl, "I did write you that he was gettingweaker and weaker; that he was no longer able to walk, or even drive out,and had wakeful, restless nights. I thought you would certainly want tocome to him when you heard that. But don't worry; Dr. Taylor has changedthe medicine, and I hope he will soon be better now."
"No, he wont; he'll not live a month!" she exclaimed half angrily; thenglancing at Evelyn's pale, terror-stricken face, "Pshaw, child! don't befrightened," she said; "I did not really mean it; I dare say we shallhave him about again in a few weeks."
"Mamma, what _do_ you _really_ think?" asked the little girl, claspingher hands and gazing into her mother's face with a look of agonizedentreaty. "I know you believe in deceiving people sometimes when youthink it for their good, for I have heard you say so; but I want to knowthe truth, even if it breaks my heart."
"I'm not a doctor, Evelyn," returned her mother coldly; "I can judge onlyfrom appearances, which are as visible to you as to me. Besides, what isthe use of my giving my opinion, since you choose to believe I am capableof intentionally deceiving you?"
With the last word she sailed from the room, leaving Evelyn alone in theparlor, where the conversation had taken place.
Evelyn sat like one stunned by a heavy blow. Could it be that her fatherwas dying--the dear father who was all the world to her? Oh, what wouldlife be worth without him? how could she go on living? How soon would thedread parting come? how many more days or hours might she spend in hisdear companionship? Ah, those precious hours were fast slipping away;every moment spent away from his side was a great loss; she would go tohim at once.
She started up, but dropped into her seat again; "mamma" was with him,and just now she would rather avoid her society.
Covering her face with her hands, she sat silently thinking,--going overagain in imagination all that had passed between her father and herselfduring the last few weeks, recalling their conversations, especiallyevery word he had addressed to her bearing upon her future; all hisloving counsels; his exhortations to lean upon God in every time of trialand perplexity; to carry every sorrow, anxiety, and care to the LordJesus in unwavering confidence that there she would find never-failingsympathy, comfort, and help.
And now for the first time it struck her that thus he was trying toprepare her to do without him--the earthly parent who had been hithertothe confidant of all her childish griefs, perplexities, hopes, joys, andfears; and with the thought the conviction deepened that he was indeedpassing away to that bourne whence no traveler returns.
Tears were stealing between the slender fingers, low, deep sobs shakingher slight frame, when a hand was gently laid upon her shoulder, and asweet-toned voice asked in tender accents, "What is it, Evelyn, dear?"
"O Aunt Elsie," cried the little girl, lifting a tear-stained face, "youwill tell me the truth! Is my dear papa--No, no, I can't say it! but oh,do you think we may hope he will soon be well again?"
"Dear child," Elsie said, in quivering tones, as she seated herself and,putting an arm about the little girl's waist, drew her close with atender caress, "he is very ill, but 'while there is life there is hope,'for with God all things are possible."
"Oh I know--I understand what that means!" cried Evelyn in anguishedaccents, "he is dying!--my dear, dear father!"
"My poor child, my poor, dear child!" Elsie said, her tears falling fast,"I can feel for you, for it is not very long since I stood by thedeathbed of a dear father. Flesh and heart fail in such a trial; but lookto Jesus for help and strength to endure, and he will sustain and comfortyou, as he did me."
"I can never, never bear it!" sobbed Evelyn, hiding her face on Elsie'sshoulder. "And papa--oh, how dreadful for him to have to go away allalone! I wish I could go with him."
"That can not be, dear; but he will not go alone. 'Yea, though I walkthrough the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thouart with me.' Jesus will be with him and he will need no one else."
"Yes; I know, and I am glad for him; but oh, who will be with me when heis gone? Mamma is seldom at home, and cares nothing for having me withher."
"God will raise up friends and companions for you, dear, and if you seekthe Lord Jesus, he will be to you a Friend indeed; One who stickethcloser than a brother or father, or any earthly creature; a Friend whowill never die, never leave or forsake you."
For some moments there was silence in the room, broken only by Evelyn'slow sobs; but at length she spoke in trembling, tearful tones, "Will theangels come and carry him to heaven, Aunt Elsie, as they did the poorbeggar, Lazarus, the Bible tells about?"
"Yes, dear, I believe they will," Elsie answered, tenderly smoothing thechild's hair. "And I think they will be full of joy for him, because hewill be done with all the pains, the troubles and trials of earth, andgoing to be forever with the Lord. I believe they will carry him home,with songs of gladness; and oh what a welcome he will receive when heenters the gates of the Celestial City! for the Bible tells us 'Preciousin the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints;' and that 'He shallsee of the travail of His soul and be satisfied.' It tells us that Hislove for his people exceeds in depth and tenderness that of a mother forher child. Then how must he rejoice over each one of his ransomed ones ashe takes them in his arms and bids them welcome to the blissful mansionshe has prepared for them."
"Yes; I shall be glad for papa; but O Aunt Elsie, what can I do withouthim?"
"God will help and comfort you, dear child; he will be your father,"Elsie said with emotion. "'A Father of the fatherless, and a judge of thewidows, is God in his holy habitation.'"
"It is a very sweet promise," said Evelyn. "Aunt Elsie, I wish I knewthat was a true, a real occurrence--that story of Dives and Lazarus; forthen I should be quite sure that angels do come to carry home Christianswhen they die, and that they would come for papa; but some people say itis only a parable."
"But the Bible does not say so," returned Elsie. "Jesus narrates it as areal occurrence, and I believe it was. Nothing has ever happened in anyworld that he has not seen and known, therefore he was perfectlycompetent to tell about the life and death of any man, and also of hisexperiences after death. So I think, dear child, you may take all thecomfort you can find in believing it a narrative of actual occurrence.
"Ah, now I remember something that may perhaps give you comfort asadditional proof that angels do carry home the souls of God's children.I heard an old minister--a man whose word I should credit as entirely asthe evidence of my own senses--tell it to my mother.
"He said that when he was a boy, at home on his father's farm, he and hisbrother were one evening out in a meadow attending to their horses. Someshort distance from them was the dwelling of an old elder, a remarkablydevoted Christian man, who always had family worship morning and evening,and always, on those occasions, sang a hymn to either Mear or OldHundred.
"On this particular evening the lads, while busy there in the meadow,were surprised by hearing sounds as of a number of voices singing one ofthe elder's two tunes--I have forgotten now which it was--but the soundscame nearer and nearer, from the direction of the elder's house--and, tothe great wonder and astonishment of the lads, passed above their heads.
"They heard the voices in the air, but saw nothing of the singers.Afterward they learned that the good old man had died just at thattime."[A]
[Footnote A: Given the author as a fact, by a Christian lady who had itfrom the good minister's own lips.]
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bsp; "How strange," said Evelyn, in an awestruck tone. "O Aunt Elsie, if Icould hear their song of joy over papa, I should not grieve quite somuch." The door opened and Laura looked in.
"Evelyn," she said, in a piqued tone, "your father wants you. It actuallyseems that you, a mere child, are more necessary to him than his ownwife. He would see you alone for a few minutes."
Silently, for her heart was too full for speech, Evelyn withdrew herselffrom Elsie's arms and hastened to obey the summons.