ighter hope could anything bring to us than the happiness
that such a death would open to me? But here I feel that the strength
and protection of God is upon me, and I will not die."

"That's all very well Mave," said her mother; "but if you took it, and
did die--oh, darlin'------"

"In God's name, then, I'll take my chance, an' do the duty that I feel
myself called upon to do; and, father dear, just think for a minute--the
thrue Christian doesn't merely forgive the injury but returns good for
evil; and then, above all things, let us make it our own case. As I said
before, if we were as they are--lyin' racked with pain, burnin' with
druth, the head splittin', the whole strength gone--not able, maybe, to
spake, and hardly able to make a sign--to wake ourselves, to put a drink
to our lips;--suppose, I say, we wor lyin' in this state, an' that all
the world had deserted us--oh, wouldn't we say that any fellow-crature
that had the kindness and the courage to come and aid us--wet our lips,
raise our heads, and cheer our sinkin' hearts by the sound of their
voice alone--oh, wouldn't we say that it was God that in His mercy put
it into their heart to come to us, and relieve us, and save us?"

The mother's feelings gave way at this picture; and she said, addressing
her husband--

"Jerry, maybe it's right that she should go, bekaise, afther all, what
if it's God Himself that has put it into her heart?"

He shook his head, but it was clear that his opposition began to waver.

"Think of the danger," he replied; "think of that. Still if I thought it
was God's own will that was setting her to it--"

"Father," she replied, "let us do what is right, and lave the rest to
God Himself. Surely you aren't afeard to trust in _Him_. I may take
the fever here at home, without goin' at all, and die; for if it's His
blessed will that I should die of it, nothing can save me, let me go or
stay where I plaise; and if it's not, it matthers little where I go; His
divine grace and goodness will take care of me and protect me. It's to
God Himself, then, you are trustin' me, an' that ought to satisfy you."

Her parents looked at each other--then at her; and, with tears in their
eyes, as if they had been parting with her as for a sacrifice, they
gave a consent, in which that humble confidence in the will of God
which constitutes the highest order of piety, was blended with a natural
yearning and terror of the heart, lest they were allowing her to