ather die than live?"
"If 'twas the Lord's will, I would," said Karen, without
moving her face.
"Why?"
Karen looked at her still, but her face unbent in a little bit
of a smile.
"You ain't one of the Lord's people, be you, young lady?"
"I don't know --" said Elizabeth, blushing and hesitating, -- "I
mean to be."
"Do you mean to be one of 'em?" said Karen.
"I wish to be -- yes, I mean to be, -- if I can."
The old woman dried her hand which had been busy in water, and
coming up took one of Elizabeth's, -- looked at its delicate
tints in her own wrinkled and black fingers, and then lifting
a moistened eye to Elizabeth's face, she answered
expressively,
"_Then_ you'll know."
"But I want to know something about it now," said the young
lady as Karen went back to her work. "Tell me. How can you
wish to 'leave all for heaven,' as you were singing a moment
ago?"
"I'd ha' done that plenty o' years ago," said Karen. "I'd got
enough of this world by that time."
"Is that the reason?"
"What reason?" said Karen.
"Is that the reason you would like to go to heaven?"
"It's the reason why I'm willing to leave the earth," said
Karen. "It hain't nothin' to do with heaven."
"Anybody might be willing to go to heaven at that rate," said
Elizabeth.
"That ain't all, young lady," said Karen, working away while
she spoke. "I'm not only willin' to go -- I'm willin' to _be_
there when I get there -- and I'm ready too, thank the Lord!"
"How can one be 'ready' for it, Karen? -- It seems such a
change."
"It'll be a good change," said Karen. "Mis' Landholm thinks it
is."
Elizabeth stood silent, the tears swelling; she got little
light from Karen.
"You wa'n't one of the Lord's people when you come? -- be you?
--" said Karen suddenly, looking round at her.
"I hardly know whether I am one now, Karen, -- but I mean to
try."
"Tryin' ain't no use," said Karen. "If you want to be one of
the Lord's people, you've only to knock, and it shall be
opened to you."
"Did you never know that fail?"
"I never tried it but once -- it didn't fail me then," said the
old woman. "The Lord keeps his promises. -- I tried it a good
while -- it don't do to stop knockin'."
"But I must -- one must try to do something -- I must try to do
my duty," said Elizabeth.
"Surely!" said Karen, facing round upon her again, "but you
can't help that. Do you s'pose you can love Jesus Christ, and
_not_ love to please him? 'Tai
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