“It is a serious one, Cousin Elsie, I will not deny that,” the doctor replied, a very grave and concerned look on his face as he spoke, “and yet I have strong hope of complete recovery; so do not any of you give way to despair, but unite together in prayer for God’s blessing on the means used.”

“Can I see her now, Aunt Rose?” he asked, turning to Mrs. Dinsmore.  “I think so,” she replied, leading the way, the doctor following, while the others remained where they were, waiting in almost silent suspense.

To them all it seemed a long, sad day.  One at a time they were admitted to a short interview with their mother, in which she spoke with each one as though it might be her last opportunity, the burden of her talk being always an earnest exhortation to a life hid with God in Christ; a life of earnest, loving service to him who had died to redeem them from sin and eternal death.

She was very cheerful and spoke hopefully of the result of the operation, yet added that, as it might prove fatal, and in a way to leave her neither time nor strength for these last words, she must speak them now; but they need not despair of seeing her restored to health and given many more years of sweet companionship with her loved ones.

Walter, as the youngest, took his turn last.

For many minutes he could do nothing but sob on his mother’s breast.  “O mamma, mamma,” he cried, “I cannot, cannot do without you!”

“Mother knows it will be hard for her baby boy at first,” she said, low and tenderly, holding him close to her heart; “but some day you will come to mamma in that happy land where there is no parting, no death, and where sorrow and sighing shall flee away; the land where ’the inhabitant shall not say I am sick’; the land where there is no sin, no suffering of any kind, and God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes.

“My darling, my little son, there is nothing else mother so desires for you as that you may be a lamb of Christ’s fold, and I have strong hopes that you already are.  You know that Jesus died to save sinners; that he is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him; that you can do nothing to earn salvation, but must take it as God’s free unmerited gift:  that Jesus says, ’Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.’  All this you know, my son?”

“Yes, mamma dearest,” he sobbed.  “Oh, how good it was in him to die that cruel death that we might live!  Yes, I do love him, and he won’t be angry with me because I’m almost heartbroken at the thought of having to do without my dear, dear mother, for many years.  O mamma, mamma, how can I live without you?”

“It may please the dear Lord Jesus to spare you that trial, my darling boy,” she said.  “I know that he will, if in his infinite wisdom he sees it to be for the best.

“And we must just trust him, remembering those sweet Bible words, ’We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.’  Leave it all with him, my darling, feeling perfectly sure that whatever he orders will be for the best; that though we may not be able to see it so now, we shall at the last.”