IN that corner of the ward lies a young woman, whose worn, suffering look tells even to an unskillful eye that life is drawing to a close.
As the terrible cough shakes her exhausted frame, the weary eyes seem to ask for a little relief, but there is none for poor Jane from human aid.
Jane's life has been one of suffering, and for the last fourteen years, to use her own words, "she has not had a single day's health." And now she is lying homeless, friendless, and helpless, scarcely able to communicate even her few wants to the stranger hands, which care for her in her need.
Does the sufferer know of the bright scene, where sickness and death cannot enter? To speak to her is to run the risk of exciting that terrible cough; yet to leave her in uncertainty is impossible.
Going up to Jane's bedside, the visitor inquired, "Do you know the Lord as your Saviour?”
There was a moment's hesitation; then at length there came from the poor, parched lips the feebly spoken answer, "Oh yes, years ago!”
“Then you are going to a Friend”
“Oh yes.”
“Do you suffer much pain?”
“Yes," whispered the sufferer, "it seems —it seems hard—to—lie—here"; and Jane gasped for breath as she spoke; "but He gives strength for the day." Then, with a great effort, she added with a smile, "He gives—it—to—me.”
“It will be rest soon, never to end!”
“Oh yes," replied Jane; "what a prospect! it will only begin.”
While she paused to recover breath, the visitor repeated one or two passages of scripture, and remarked, "He will not forget you.”
The worn face brightened, as Jane whispered, "Oh no, it would not be like Him if He did." Then, fearing she was misunderstood, she repeated earnestly, "It would not be LIKE HIM if He did forget!”
Several times she made an attempt to speak, but her voice failed her; so, fearing lest she should exhaust her failing strength, the visitor left her, with a promise to return.
Soothing words of kindness and hope, such as the watcher by the sick bed must ever be ready to minister, were not needed here; rather were lessons learned, and the knowledge gained how God sustains His tried ones in feebleness and suffering.
A few days later Jane remarked, “How wonderful it is that the Lord should send me kind friends, now that I have no one. I have no friends left; there are some who know me, but I have no relations; but I have a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother; He will be with me to the end.”
There was a long pause, and then Jane whispered, “I’ve suffered—sore, but He— suffered—worse. He tempers the wind-to -the shorn-lamb, you know. He will not lay on—us-more—than we can bear. My God—shall supply all—your need.”
At Jane's request her visitor read the dosing verses of Rom. 8, and the remark was made that, "the Lord Jesus could not ever leave those who had cost Him so much.”
“No," said Jane,” it would not be like Him if He did; He could not be what He is if He did; He could not be God if He did.
“I have heard people say," Jane said, after a short silence, “that we need two conversions." She tried to explain what was meant by this, but failed. "But I don't believe Mal, you know—once in Christ, in Christ forever." Weak and lonely ones, for whom I write this little paper, are you ready to sink beneath the trials of the way? Think of this sufferer, sustained and kept by Jesus, nay, rather "consider Him"; "be of good courage," ere long the cloud must break, never again to gather.
When her visitor rose to leave, Jane said, “It was kind of you to come. Sometimes people come in, and don't speak to me. It is nice to speak to one another, you know. They that feared the Lord spake often one to another"; and once more the feeble voice gave way. After a pause, she continued, "The Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him." M. M.