l very sorry
when mothers torture themselves in this needless way, as if God could
not avert ill consequences, if He chose.

I have shed more than one tear to-day. I heard last night that my
dearly-loved brother, Prof. Hopkins, is on his dying-bed. I never
thought of his dying, he comes of such a long-lived race. I expect to go
to see him, and if I find I can be of any use or comfort, stay a week or
two. His death will come very near to me, but he is a saintly man, and I
am glad for him that he can go. How thankful we shall be when our turn
comes! The ladies at our little meeting were deeply interested in what
I had to tell them about your dear boy, and prayed for you with much
feeling. May our dear Lord bless you abundantly with His sweet presence!
I know He will. And yet He has willed it that you should suffer.
"Himself hath done it!" Oh how glad He will be when the dispensation of
suffering is over, and He can gather His beloved round Him, tearless,
free from sorrow and care, and all forever at rest.

_May 5th._--Yesterday, the friend at East Dorset whose three children
died within a few weeks of each other, sent me some verses, of which I
copy one for you:

"The eye of faith beholds
A golden stair, like that of old, whereon
Fair spirits go and come;
God's angels coming down on errands sweet,
Our angels going home."

I hope this golden stair, up which your dear boy climbed "with shout and
song," is covered with God's angels coming down to bless and comfort
you. One of the most touching passages in the Bible, to my mind, is
that which describes angels as coming to minister to Jesus after
His temptations in the wilderness. It gives one such an idea of His
helplessness! Just as I was going out to church this morning, Mr.
Prentiss told me of the death of a charming "baby-boy," one of our
lambs, and I could scarcely help bursting into tears, though I had only
seen him once. You can hardly understand how I feel, as a pastor's wife,
toward our people. Their sorrows come right home. I have a friend also
hanging in agonizing suspense over a little one who has been injured by
a fall; she is sweetly submissive, but you know what a mother's heart
is. I have yet another friend, who has had to give up her baby. She is a
young mother, and far from her family, but says she has "perfect peace."
So from all sides I hear sorrowful sounds, but so much faith and
obedience mingled with the sighs, that I can only wond