. She longed so to
live and move and have her being in love to Christ, that nobody could
come near her without being straightway reminded of Him. She seemed to
be always saying to herself, in the words of an old Irish hymn: [17]
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ at my right, Christ at my
left, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the
mouth of every man who speaks to me, Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me. Such was her constant prayer; and it
was answered in the experience of many souls, whose faith was kindled
into a brighter flame by the intense ardor of hers. So long and so
closely, in my own mind, was she associated with Christ, that the
thought of her still reminds me of Him as naturally as does reading
about Him in the New Testament.

The allegory referred to above is here given:

A benevolent man found a half-starved, homeless, blind beggar-boy in the
streets of a great city. He took him, just as he was, to his own house,
adopted him as his own son, and began to educate him. But the boy
learned very slowly, and his face was often sad. His father asked him
why he did not fix his mind more upon his lessons, and why he was not
cheerful and happy, like the other children. The boy replied that his
mind was constantly occupied with the fear that he had not been really
adopted as a son, and might at any moment learn his mistake.

_Father_. But can you not believe me when I assure you that you are my
own dear son?

_Boy_. I can not, for I can see no reason why you should adopt me. I was
a poor, bad boy; you did not need any more children, for you had a house
full of them, and I never can do anything for you.

_Father_. You can love me and be happy, and as you grow older and
stronger you can work for me.

_Boy_. I am afraid I do not love you; that is what troubles me.

_Father_. Would you not be very sorry to have me deny that you are my
son, and turn you out of the house?

_Boy_. Oh, yes! But perhaps that is because you take good care of me,
not because I love you.

_Father_. Suppose, then, I should provide some one else to take care of
you, and should then leave you.

_Boy_. That would be dreadful.

_Father_. Why? You would be taken good care of, and have every want
supplied.

_Boy_. But I should have no father. I should lose the best thing I have.
I should be lonely.