THERE was great trouble in the house.
The mother lay ill of a fever, several others, too, had it, or were still suffering from its effects; of these, one especially seemed likely to succumb; he was the eldest son, but I must write as Mrs. D. herself related the story to me.
“One day the doctor came into my room, saying, ‘I cannot hide from you longer that your poor son is dying.’ The fever seemed as nothing; I rose and ministered to him; it was for his soul I wanted healing balm, for I felt he did not know the Lord. As I sat by his bedside I whispered, ‘Charlie, listen to me, I am going to tell you something about your dear brother Fred, and if you like me to go on, press my hand.’
“He feebly touched my fingers, and I continued, ‘It was when we were together in the south of France, I was sitting by him one day, his increasing weakness filled me with sadness; I knew he must soon leave me, and I was uncertain as to his soul’s safety, for he had not spoken as one who seemed to know the Saviour.’ We sat thus in silence till it was broken by the dear fellow; he glanced at me with a searching look, as if to read my thoughts, and then he gently said, ‘Mother mine, I know what you are thinking about, you feel that we must soon part, and the thought that troubles you is as to the salvation of my soul.’
“I told him he had read my mind aright, and he continued, ‘God has not given to me the bright assurance that you have; but I think that the dear Saviour will never cast me away—a poor boy, whose only trust is in Him.’
“I was here interrupted by the nurse, who, seeing a change on the invalid’s face, whispered, hurriedly, he is dying.’ I ran to seek my husband. ‘Adolphus,’ I cried, ‘our Charlie is going, let us kneel down and give him back to God, before he is taken from us.’
“Kneeling there, we committed him into the hands of our Father, trusting his soul to Christ for salvation. A moment later we stood around his dying bed, sad and sick at heart. But God had heard and answered our prayers, giving us more than we had asked or thought. He had heard us in ‘the day of trouble.’ Charlie had taken a turn, and was even then a shade better. ‘It is none of my skill,’ the doctor said, ‘it must be a miracle.’
“Days passed on, the invalid slowly progressed. When he had strength to speak, his first anxiety was on my account.
“‘Mother,’ he whispered, ‘now I want to tell you something. I knew when you spoke of Fred you were thinking of me, and I thought, and thought of all he had said. The Saviour did not turn him away. I was like Fred; I had never had assurance of salvation; but I said to myself, ‘I do trust the Saviour, and surely He will not cast me out either.’ As I lay there—dying—I seemed to see the Lord Himself on the cross at the very foot of my bed, and He said, ‘Come unto me.’ Then I saw His death, His work—all. I received Himself, and peace filled my heart from that moment!”
Poor happy mother! this was joy almost too great; for three days more she continued her work, ministering to soul and body, and then her false strength left her, and she relapsed into the fever from which she had risen with the force only of excitement.
Mother and son are well, now. Years have passed since that long “day of trouble.” Charlie is still rejoicing in Christ, and is now laboring in a distant land, trying to win souls to Jesus, who so graciously whispered to his seemingly dying ear, “Come unto Me.”
The conversation was broken off very sadly about Fred, but I will tell the rest. He “came trembling” to the Saviour, as one of old did, who “came behind Him and touched the border of His garment,” but who was “healed immediately.” So with Fred; but he did not remain “trembling,” he found “the dear Saviour” did not cast him out, “a poor boy whose only trust was in Him.” To him were spoken words of cheer and hope as to her. “Be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.”
Fred lived long enough after that to find the Saviour all and more than he had thought, and to him was given “the bright assurance” which his mother has, and which he craved. He received it only by simple faith; and what is faith? Just being at the end of one’s own resources, and casting oneself on the ability and love of another. S. C. M. A.