An Affecting Circumstance—Sympathizing Physician
An affecting circumstance — Sympathizing’ physician — Increased responsibilities — Little Jane at prayer — “Don’t angels sing?” — Pecuniary difficulties — Loved ones separate — Grandmother’s return — Her sudden death — Mi’s. Gardner’s baptism — Baptism of the Holy Ghost — Her eldest daughter’s illness and death.
On the second day of June, 18 —, my daughter Ehzabeth was born. This was to me a deeply-affecting circumstance. It brought vividly to mind my beloved husband, and all my past sorrows. When my babe was dressed the doctor took it in his arms, and my little Jane by the hand, and approaching my bedside said, “Mary, my dear child, here are your children.” ‘’Yes, doctor,” I replied, ‘’but where is their father? He is gone, and am a lonely widow.” Here the tears began to flow afresh. He endeavored to comfort me, repeating the words, “As thy day is, so shall thy strength be.” My responsibility was now greatly increased: I had to act a father’s as well as a mother’s part. The objects of my tender and constant care grew every day more mteresting. My little Jane thought much of God, and seemed disposed to seek his favor. Whenever I kneeled in prayer, she was sure to kneel beside me, and remain till I had finished. One day, havingoccasion to go to my room, I found her kneeling beside a chair, with her little hands clasped and her lips moving as if in prayer. I was deeply moved; I kneeled beside her. She was not at all disconcerted by my presence. I asked her why she had come there. She said, “Mamma, you come here alone to pray, and I want to talk with God too.” My heart was filled with love to God, while I listened to her answer, and I said, Verily, ‘out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise!’”
One day she had been singing, with great earnestness, ‘’Halleluiah.” Soon after she came to me and said, “Mamma, don’t angels in heaven sing halleluiah to God?” Upon being assured that they did, she said, “Well, I will sing it too.”
Early in 1 824 difficulties accumulated in our family. My father, in endeavoring to assist a friend, became insolvent, and at last lost all his property. The little that my husband had left for my support went with it. My father had a proud spirit, and he could not bear the humiliation. His health became impaired, and he soon sank into his grave, leaving us, who had always been accustomed to every comfort, in poverty and deep distress. We were an affectionate family, and had never been separated for any length of time. But the hour for separation had indeed come. My grandmother was now obliged to live with her son; my sister married and left; while ray step-mother and myself hired a part of the house we were in and lived together.
In the month of November my grandmother came to see us. As she entered the door she said, ‘’Mary, I have come to live and die with you: I can not be contented away from you.” ‘’Well, my dear grandmother,” I replied, “if these are your feelings, I will share the last morsel with you. You shall never leave me.” She appeared to be in her usual health, and very happy. This was on Tuesday. On Thursday morning, thinking that she had slept longer than usual, I went to awake her; but my efforts were vain. She no longer recognized the loved ones around her, but was just ready to gather up her feet in death, and yield her spirit to God, who gave it. At ten o’clock that evening she died, in the eighty-fourth year of her age — gathered into the heavenly garner, like a shock of corn fully ripe, in its season.
Two weeks after this event I joined the Presbyterian Church. I did not fully assent to all the articles of their belief; but seeing no other way opened for me, I thought it better to cast in my lot with the people of the Lord even if I did not agree with them in every particular. I was baptized with water, and the Holy Ghost descended upon me in a manner that enabled me greatly to rejoice in God my Savior. How good was the Lord thus to strengthen me, before he again laid his afflicting hand upon me! I had no sooner reached my home than my little Jane complained of a sore throat. She was very fleshy, and I became apprehensive that she might have the croup. I, however, gave her some medicine, which seemed to relieve her, and she soon appeared quite well again.
The next Sunday morning I heard her, at an early hour, saying, “0, grandmamma, my throat is so sore!” I discovered that she breathed with great difficulty. I ran into the room, and there lay myl3eloved child panting for breath. Vain would be an attempt to describe my feelings. The physician was called. As he entered the room he first glanced at me as I sat weeping, and then looking at my beloved one, said, “Mary, my dear child, don’t weep; she looks like a little angel.” An emetic was promptly administered, and every thing in our power was done to save her. At four o’clock, P. M., I found that the hand of death had snatched the dear one from my fond embrace; but I had the sweet assurance that angels had carried her to rest in Abraham’s bosom; and I was enabled triumphantly to exclaim, “It is well with me; it is well with my husband; it is well with the child.”