exceedingly weak. Her strength soon
returned, however, and it was not long until the Lord told her plainly
that he wanted her at _The Gospel Trumpet_ office. She remembered her
consecration and felt willing in her heart to obey; but she shrank from
telling her parents. For two weeks she endured severe mental suffering.
She tried to gain sufficient courage to speak to her mother about the
call, but her tongue refused to form the words. One day while she and
her mother were in the cosy sitting-room, Mrs. Worthington said,
"Bessie, I believe that God wants you at _The Gospel Trumpet_ office and
that he has used Cora's plan and your sickness to show you your duty."
Looking up through eyes filled with tears, Bessie related all that God
had revealed to her. A great calm then came into her soul.

But the test was not entirely over. Mr. Worthington must be told,
and--would he be willing? Embracing the first opportunity, Bessie told
him her plans and begged his approval upon them; but his reply nearly
crushed her.

"Bessie," said her father, "if you must leave us, you may go; but I have
one thing to say and I mean it. If you go, you can never return; for
your going is heartless indeed. I can not see why you should choose to
go from your comfortable home and those who love you so dearly, and
leave your mother, who so much needs your help."

"Father, Father!" exclaimed Bessie, "Oh, don't talk that way! You know
how much I love you all. You know I never wanted to leave home before;
and if you won't let me return, what shall I do?"

As she stood there before her father almost broken-hearted, a sweet
voice whispered, "I will be with thee; be not afraid." The words sounded
like music in her soul and reminded her of her recent decision to obey
the Lord at any cost; and she said quietly:

"Well, Father, if you refuse to let me return home, it will have to be
that way; but I must obey the Lord, and he has called me into his
service"

"Very well," he answered, "but remember my words," and he left her.

Seeking her mother, Bessie told her of the interview and of her father's
refusal to allow her to return home. For a moment they stood looking at
one another; and then, with great tears filling her eyes, her mother
said:

"Remember the words of Jesus, 'There is no man that hath left house, or
parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's
sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in