The subject chosen for the first lesson after Eva’s coming was the resurrection, probably selected especially for Eva’s comfort in her sorrow over her mother’s recent departure, to be with her no more in this life.

“Mother,” the captain said, addressing Grandma Elsie, when they were all seated, each with a Bible in hand, “as you are somewhat older and certainly much wiser than I—­especially as regards spiritual things—­will you not take the lead to-day?”

“Older I certainly am,” returned Mrs. Travilla, with her own sweet smile, “but I think not wiser than yourself, captain; and certainly I have not made the preparation for this occasion which doubtless you have.  So please lead the exercises just as you would if I were not present.”

“You would prefer my doing so?” he asked.

“Very much,” she replied.  “The resurrection is the subject?”

“Yes; and what a glorious one! how full of comfort for all who believe in Christ!  ’For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my death my body is destroyed, yet in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself and mine eyes shall behold, and not another,’ said the patriarch Job; comforting himself in his affliction with that blessed prospect.  The doctrine of a general resurrection is expressly taught in both the Old Testament and the New, and I think we cannot spend our lesson hour more profitably than in looking up the texts on the subject.  Can you give us one, mother?”

At that Grandma Elsie opened her Bible.

“Beginning with the Old Testament,” she said, “here in Psalms xlix. 15 we read:  ’But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave:  for he shall receive me.  Selah.’  Then here in Isaiah; ’Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise.  Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust:  for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.’”

Then Violet, sitting next, read from her open Bible:  “’The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, saying, Master, Moses said, if a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.  Now there were with us seven brethren:  and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:  likewise the second also, and the third unto the seventh.  And last of all the woman died also.  Therefore in the resurrection, whose wife shall she be? for they all had her.  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.  For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.  But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?  God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.’”