But God’s ways are not as our ways; truly, they are past finding out.  We felt like putting our hands on our mouths, for fear of rebelling against His most righteous decrees.  “Be still, and know that I am God,” was all that we could say.  It was hard to realize that the sun was still shining behind the cloud, for this was a darkness that might be felt.  There seemed a pall over the earth and sky.  Oh, how unsatisfactory seemed all on earth! how dark and strange! how mysterious and unreal!  We could not weep, we were stunned, and it seemed at the time that we could never come back to earth without her.  But when the touching relation of her last hours was made to us, the fountains of grief were unsealed, and we wept, as it were, rivers of tears.

I can give you no idea on paper of the beauty and sublimity of that death-scene as it was painted to me.  We imagined that the heart must shrink, or at least draw back before the entrance into the dark valley.  But all was peace; it flowed in upon her like a river, and she felt that underneath were the everlasting arms.  Her husband and two remaining children stood by the bed.  Oh, the bitterness of the cup he was called upon to drink!  He shrank from it.  As he bent over her, she said,

“Do not weep, love.  How good God has been to give us so many bright, happy years together!  Surely the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places, and I”—­raising her beautiful eyes to heaven—­“have a goodly heritage.  I go to my Saviour.  How should I feel at this moment had I not a hope in him?  Oh, I am going home!  I see Willie beckoning me to hasten.  I will bear him in my arms to the Saviour’s feet, and together we shall sing the ‘new song.’  I do not love you nor these sweet darlings less; but I love the Saviour more.  I wish you could look in my heart and see the love I bear you.  Thank you for all your indulgence, for all your kindness in bearing with my many infirmities.  If I am permitted, I will be ever your guardian angel.  Remember me with much and undying love to all the dear friends who have been so kind to me.”

She appeared buoyed up with unnatural strength, though her end was so near.  She broke into a sweet hymn; and it was, they said, as though the angel’s voice had anticipated the few short moments before she should sing the “new song.”  She lay quiet for a little time, holding the hand of her husband in her own; then, opening her eyes and seeing the last rays of the departing sun, “I shall never look upon that bright orb again; but there is no need of the sun there.  I draw near to heavenly habitations, and I would not retreat for what the world can give.  Dearest, be faithful to your trust.”  And, imprinting a kiss upon his lips, her pure spirit went peacefully home.

We draw a veil upon the feelings of that bereaved one; too sacred are they to be looked upon; his house was left unto him desolate.  That form, which had been to his eye like the well in the desert or the bow in the sky, was now cold in death.