t created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed
thee, O Israel, Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee
by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will
be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when
thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall
the flame kindle upon thee." Trusting in that promise, I sat down, as it
were, over against the sepulchre, to prepare my child for her entrance
into it,--nay, for her departure into heaven.

The gradual arrival of the truth to her apprehension, through questions
which she began to ask, and my answers to them, finally led her to
inquire if I supposed she could not live long. I told her that the
physician thought that she was extremely weak, and that we must not be
surprised at any sudden event in her case. She said, without any change
of countenance, "Why, father, you surprise me; I thought that I might
get well; is it possible that I cannot live long? I have thought of
recovering much more than of dying... It seems a long space to pass over
between this and heaven, in so short a time. I wonder how I can so
suddenly obtain all the feelings which I need for such a change." These
expressions I wrote down immediately after the interview. I told her, in
reply, that she had been living at peace with God through his Son; that
it had hitherto been her duty to live, and to strive for it; but now God
had indicated his will concerning her, and she might be sure that God
will always give us feelings suited to every condition in which he sees
fit to place us.

On seeing her again towards evening, I found that the expression of her
sick face--the weary, exhausted look of one grappling with a stronger
power--had passed away, and, in exchange, there was peace, and even
happiness. She began herself to say, "When you told me this forenoon
that I could not live, it surprised me; but I have come to it now, and
it is all right. Every thing is settled. I have nothing to do--no fear,
no anxiety about any thing. More passages of Scripture and verses of
hymns have come to my mind to-day, than in all my sickness hitherto."
Wishes respecting some family arrangements were then expressed,
particularly with reference to the younger children, and these wishes
were uttered in about the same tone and manner as though we were parting
for a temporary absence from each other. The mother of my youngest child
had, at her death, gi