“I do love him,” she continued, “an’ this is more than ever I had courage to tell you openly before; but, father, I feel that I am called upon here to go to their assistance, and to see that they don’t die from neglect in a Christian country.  I have trust an’ confidence in the Almighty God.  I am not afeard of fever now; and even if I take it an’ die, you both know that I’ll die in actin’ the part of a Christian girl; an’ what brighter hope could anything bring to us than the happiness that such a death would open to me?  But here I feel that the strength and protection of God is upon me, and I will not die.”

“That’s all very well Mave,” said her mother; “but if you took it, and
did die--oh, darlin’------”

“In God’s name, then, I’ll take my chance, an’ do the duty that I feel myself called upon to do; and, father dear, just think for a minute—­the thrue Christian doesn’t merely forgive the injury but returns good for evil; and then, above all things, let us make it our own case.  As I said before, if we were as they are—­lyin’ racked with pain, burnin’ with druth, the head splittin’, the whole strength gone—­not able, maybe, to spake, and hardly able to make a sign—­to wake ourselves, to put a drink to our lips;—­suppose, I say, we wor lyin’ in this state, an’ that all the world had deserted us—­oh, wouldn’t we say that any fellow-crature that had the kindness and the courage to come and aid us—­wet our lips, raise our heads, and cheer our sinkin’ hearts by the sound of their voice alone—­oh, wouldn’t we say that it was God that in His mercy put it into their heart to come to us, and relieve us, and save us?”

The mother’s feelings gave way at this picture; and she said, addressing her husband—­

“Jerry, maybe it’s right that she should go, bekaise, afther all, what if it’s God Himself that has put it into her heart?”

He shook his head, but it was clear that his opposition began to waver.

“Think of the danger,” he replied; “think of that.  Still if I thought it was God’s own will that was setting her to it—­”

“Father,” she replied, “let us do what is right, and lave the rest to God Himself.  Surely you aren’t afeard to trust in Him.  I may take the fever here at home, without goin’ at all, and die; for if it’s His blessed will that I should die of it, nothing can save me, let me go or stay where I plaise; and if it’s not, it matthers little where I go; His divine grace and goodness will take care of me and protect me.  It’s to God Himself, then, you are trustin’ me, an’ that ought to satisfy you.”