NUMBERS leave the question of their souls’ salvation till their dying hour, perhaps to be settled then during the hurried visit of some priest! So was it with an acquaintance of mine, a gay, sprightly young woman, the mother of three children. Her giddy life was chiefly spent in pleasure, yet nominally she was a Christian, being a member, she said, of the Church of England, the services of which she hardly ever attended!
She was taken seriously ill, and we asked her to allow a Christian to visit her, but were refused. Then the priest came and granted her absolution. Very unexpectedly the young mother continued in a critical condition, hovering between death and life, for some months, and buoyed up with hopes of recovery.
While thus upon the borders of eternity, a gay young neighbor, as light and foolish as herself, came with a new dress to show off its attractions. This called forth the vanity of the dying woman. She had all her dresses ranged about the room and upon her bed for her eyes to feast upon. But just as she was inspecting them, the summons came, and her spirit was called to God who gave it―one moment occupied with the frivolities of dress, the next in the presence of the Almighty God!