By this time Mr. Worthington had fully awakened to the fact that something serious was troubling his child, and he sprang to her side.  As soon as possible they summoned a doctor.  He found that the cut on her hand had caused lockjaw, but said that there was no cause for alarm.  The parents, however, felt very anxious and called in several doctors for consultation.  They found that it was too late to do anything for the child.  “The course of this disease,” said the doctors, “is usually very rapid; and we are sorry that we can offer no hope.”

When Mrs. Worthington heard the doctors’ verdict, anguish such as she had never experienced before filled her soul.  Her thoughts went back to the previous night.  Oh! why had she not examined the child closely then?  In her distress she cried to the Lord, saying, “Dear Lord, what can this mean?  Must I go through another test with one of my children?  If so, help me to say amen to thy will!”

Everything possible was done for the comfort of the little sufferer.  The little life was swiftly nearing its close.  Even when the doctors injected medicine into her arm to relieve her pain, she did not murmur.  Forgetful for a moment of her suffering, she looked into her mother’s eyes and said, “Mama, I love you”; then turning to her father, “Papa, I love you”; and then to the doctors and friends, “I like all these folks.”

What a beautiful testimony?  She had only kindly feelings in her heart for all, even for the doctors, who seemed to be her enemies.  Her words were as a message sent from God as they fell into that mother’s heart.  They seemed as sweet incense and a soothing balm to her troubled spirit.  Gazing into the child’s face, the mother read of the tender, compassionate love of God for suffering humanity; she read of the depth of Christ’s love for the innocent and pure; and, by the heavenly smile that lighted the little face as her darling sank into unconsciousness, she saw that the child realized her Savior’s presence.

Slowly the tide is going out; the soul of the child is passing from the mother’s presence into life immortal.  “O my darling, speak to me once more!” The large blue eyes slowly unclose; a look of disappointment comes into them as she says, “Where has Jesus gone?” The dear eyes softly close; she sinks again into unconsciousness; the beautiful expression of happiness returns; the mother knows that her darling is in the arms of Jesus and is content.

Mrs. Worthington did not sorrow as those who have no hope; for she knew that her heavenly Father knew best, and she could look up with confidence and say, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away:  blessed be the name of the Lord.”  With the father it was different.  Up to this time he had never had any serious thoughts of a future life.  He knew that his wife was a good woman, but he considered her religious views rather strange.  She had seen so much error among the popular religious denominations