iring church goer; rain or shine,
she was in her place. Her son-in-law was not a Christian, and always
had an excellent excuse for remaining at home, in the summer the
horses were tired, or it was too hot; in the winter it was too cold,
or too something. Many a dreary Sabbath the sad mother sat at her
chamber window and watched the rain come down in slow, straight
drizzle, repeating to herself rather than singing, as she rocked too
and fro,

"How lovely is thy dwelling-place,
O Lord of hosts to me!
The tabernacles of thy grace,
How pleasant, Lord, they be!

"My thirsty soul longs vehemently,
Yea, faints thy courts to see;
My very heart and flesh cry out,
O living God for thee."

Longing meanwhile with intense desire to sit once again in the old
pew, and hear the familiar tones of her pastor's voice in that
far-away, pleasant village that used to be her home; now she had no
home, a wanderer from house to house, and yet she was not a murmurer,
her faith and love did not falter.

In due course of time she went on her pilgrim way and tarried for a
time at her daughter Hannah's; a good-natured soul, who loved her
mother and gave her welcome to such as she had, but she lived in a
small house, with a large flock of children, undisciplined, rough,
and noisy. It seemed that in the full little house there was no quiet
corner for retreat, and grandma often moaned in the words of one of
her dear psalms

"O that I like a dove had wings,
Said I, then would I flee,
Far hence that I might find a place
Where I in rest might be."

"After all I need all this," the old saint would say to herself.
"It's a part of my dear Lord's schooling. I was having too nice a
time, Ephraim and I all alone. I dare say I got out of the way and he
had to bring me back. He sent me all that peaceful, comfortable time;
I was very glad to have his will done when it was according to my
notion; this is his will all the same, and shall not I be willing to
take what he sends? He is only getting me ready.

"Soon the delightful day will come
When my dear Lord will call me home,
And I shall see his face."

Albeit the house was small, and the children noisy, this persecuted
grandmother of many homes found herself dreading to leave it and find
a new home with her eldest son.