" And when she returned to her dying child, it
was with a feeling of sweet confidence. "I will not fear to trust him,
even with this darling child. His gentle spirit was not fitted for
earthly strifes; now it shall expand in an atmosphere of perfect love.
'The Lord gave him, the Lord taketh him away; blessed be his name.'"
The dying boy breathed gently, and looked as if in a sweet sleep,
sometimes a smile would play around his mouth, as if he were in a
pleasant dream. There was no perceptible change till nearly morning,
then Mrs. Hamilton called Mr. and Mrs. Martin. They stood in tearful
silence round his bed, (for they loved Arthur almost as a child),
watching his shortened breathing. There was no pain, no sigh, but as the
morning light gleamed across the eastern hill, the spirit passed away.
CHAPTER IX.
THE SECOND GATHERING.
Once more the family stood together under the cottage roof; once more
the neighbors and friends one by one, silently passed in; once more a
coffin stood upon the table, and aged men and women, and middle-aged and
children looked into it with weeping eyes; once more stifled sobs were
heard; once more that mother with her children sat in the inner room;
but not all; all were not there.
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