HOW sweet to be at home again with you, mother," said Kate, as, all the excitement of her afternoon's arrival was over, she sat down by the comfortable-looking fire to have a chat with her mother before her father's return. The children had all retired to rest, and mother and daughter were alone.
“It is sweet to have you back again, love," responded Mrs. Grahame. “No one but the Lord knows how I have missed you."
“Mother," said Kate after a short pause, "I cannot help thinking that you are more unwell than you will own."
“Now, that is naughty, Kate. You must not begin to find troubles directly you are with us again. I have not felt very strong lately, but this weather is trying."
“Mother," replied Kate, as her eyes rested on the thin hands by her side; "have you had a doctor?"
“No, darling; doctors are too expensive," said Mrs. Grahame, with an attempt at a smile. “When the spring comes, Kate, I dare say I shall feel stronger again."
“It is a long time till then," said Kate with a sigh. “Have you any pain, mother? or is it only constant weariness? "
“Have you been studying medicine while you've been away this term?" asked Mrs. Grahame playfully. “Are you going to become my doctor?"
“Don’t laugh about it, mother," said Kate; "I am really in earnest. Tell me a little about yourself." Little by little, Kate drew out many details that Mrs. Grahame had never spoken of before. It was not usual for her to speak of her own ailments; but already in her own mind the conviction was growing daily, that the time would soon have to come when the family must know. Very grave indeed Kate looked as the conversation came to a close. Not that she possessed medical skill, for it did not require any knowledge of that description to see that some of her mother's symptoms were very serious.
“Mother, with this palpitation, how do you get about? Can you go up and down stairs without bringing it on? "
"You must not be so anxious, Kate dear," said her mother gently. I avoid doing so as much as possible. The children do those little errands for me."
“But when they are at school, mother?"
“Since poor little Ruthie's death," replied her mother, "Mrs. Gray has been so much in my room. She is a widow, you know, and Ruthie was her only child."
“I am glad there is some one who thinks of you, mother. I could not bear that you should feel so unwell, and be alone."
"I am never alone; there is ever One with me. Never think of me as alone, Kate darling," said the mother, as her eyes filled with tears.
“You must have a doctor, dear mother," urged Kate; "I shall not rest till you have his opinion."
“We can't afford it, dear," pleaded Mrs. Grahame, in a low, earnest tone. “Don’t mention it to your father; it would vex him so, if he thought I needed one."
“Mother, I shall pay for it," said Kate in a quiet, decided tone. “You must have one! So you must be good now, and do just what I tell you."
“Oh, Kate!" said Mrs. Grahame; "you spend all that you receive upon us."
“What could I do better, sweet mother?" asked Kate, as she rose to greet her father who just entered.
It seemed like old times to have Kate back again with us. All had missed her a great deal more than she thought. She had been called into a new sphere in which to exercise new influences, to fulfill new responsibilities, while we had been left behind to work on much in the same order of routine as before; but without the presence of the one who had made such sunlight in our midst.
“Kate," said Mrs. Grahame a few evenings later on, "when I am gone you will still point the children to Jesus. He is the only One who can give daily strength for the conflict."
“Mother," said Kate, with a painful start of surprise, "you're better than you were, are you not? Why do you say that?"
“I don't think I am really better, darling; a little patching up of the old house! that is all."
“But Dr. Turner says you may get stronger when this severe weather is over, dear mother," replied Kate.
“Dr. Turner is very kind, Kate. You chose the kindest doctor I have ever had; but if it is not the Lord's will for me to get well again, he cannot cure me."
“Oh! mother, don't," said Kate in a pleading tone; " I can't bear to think of it."
“My darling child," said Mrs. Grahame, as she drew her fondly to her side, "it is better to talk of what must be. Think of it gently, Kate. Isn't the Lord by your side all the way?"
“Mother, I know it," was the low answer, wrung from a heart that, for the first time, felt the reality of the shadow that was coming.
“And you will try to rest upon that knowledge, darling," said the mother gently. “Let it help to cheer you and sustain you, whatever may come. My love, there's a refuge from every storm in the heart of the Lord Himself; a place to rest beneath the shadow of His wings. You have trusted Him for salvation, Kate, can you not also trust Him for the difficulties of the way?"
“They may be harder than I expect, mother," spoke Kate through her sobs.
“He knows what is best, darling; but I thought you wouldn't look at what is coming, Kate," said her mother in a low, soft tone.
“I endeavored to hide from you that I was very anxious about you, mother," said Kate softly. “I couldn't bear the thought of it."
“But it is better to talk of the burden which is on your spirit, darling. I saw that it was there in spite of all the brightness you've thrown around us since you came back again."
“Mother, my holidays will be over in a week!" said Kate, as she burst into tears.
“I know it, darling. It is why I chose to talk to you to-night."
“Mother, I'll come back home at Easter!" said Kate with sudden resolve. “Oh! if I could only stop now!"
“We must leave that with the Lord, dear," she answered. “Easter may be different; but now your duty lies before you plainly-to return at the appointed time."
“Kate," said her mother a little later, "I want you to take my watch with you this time."
“Your watch, mother," said Kate, a little surprised; "I have my own!"
“Yes, dear, I know; but you can leave me your old one, and take mine and keep it for my sake. I shall not need a watch much longer, darling."
“Keep it till I come back next time, dear mother," urged Kate quietly.
“Take it now, darling," said Mrs. Grahame in a low whisper. “I should like you to have it for my sake; and so often during the pressure of our everyday life, I have feared that it must be sold. It is safe with you. But father will be coming in shortly, and he must not find that you have been weeping. Go and bathe your face in my room; and Kate," said the mother, as she once more clasped her daughter in an affectionate embrace, "get close to the Lord, under the shadow of His wings. ‘As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you, saith the Lord.'"
Ah! surely Kate had need of that comfort, and as the cold water did its work, cooling the hot brow, soothing the aching eyes, so there was another power, unseen, invisible; but nevertheless doing its office of comforter to her wounded spirit. And as she knelt by the bedside for a short time, there came into her soul the remembrance of those beautiful words, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."