Elsie at Home | Page 5

to your ability in that line,
and your services may possibly be needed at some future time," he
answered with an affectionate look and smile.
"Yes, Lu is a capital nurse, I think," said Violet, "but whatever she does
is sure to be well done."
"Thank you, Mamma Vi," returned the young girl, blushing with
pleasure; "it is most kind in you to say that; but if I am thorough in
anything, most of the credit belongs to my father, who has never
allowed me to content myself with a slovenly performance of my
duties."

"No," he said, "what is worth doing at all is worth doing well; that is a
lesson I have endeavoured to impress upon each one of my children,
and one which I think they have all learned pretty thoroughly."
"And they have always had the teaching of example as well as precept,
from their father," remarked Violet with a look of loving appreciation
up into his face; "so that it would be strange indeed if they had not
learned it."
"Indeed that is true, mamma," said Grace. "It does seem to me that papa
does everything he undertakes as thoroughly well as anyone possibly
could."
"A very good idea for one's children to cultivate," laughed the captain.
Then consulting his watch, "But it is high time we were in the
schoolroom, daughters. Elsie and Ned have been there this half hour,
and probably have a lesson or two ready to recite."
"And Eva will not be with us to-day; probably not for many more
days," remarked Lucilla with a slight sigh of disappointment and regret,
as she and Grace rose and gave prompt obedience to her father's
implied order.
"Yes," he said, "I fear so; but her first duty is to her mother."
So Evelyn herself felt, and nobly she discharged it; neglecting nothing
in her power for the relief and enjoyment of the invalid who, though
often fretful, exacting, and unreasonable, was yet nearest and dearest to
her of all earthly creatures. The young girl's loving patience seemed
never to fail, and her heart was continually going up in earnest, silent
petitions that her beloved parent might be made meet for the
inheritance of the saints in light; that she might learn to love Him who
had died to redeem her from death and the power of the grave, and to
give her an abundant entrance into his kingdom and glory.
The doubt of Laura's preparation for death and eternity, amounting to
almost certainty that it was lacking, made this nursing an even sadder
one than had been that of Eric, Evelyn's father, years ago. To him talk

of things heavenly and divine had ever seemed easy and natural, and
with the certainty that he was passing away from earth came the full
assurance that he was ready to depart and be with Christ in glory.
But Laura hastily repelled the slightest allusion to eternity and a
preparation for it. Evelyn's only consolation was in the knowledge that
others were uniting their earnest petitions with hers, and that God is the
hearer and answerer of prayer.
It was Grandma Elsie who at length succeeded in speaking a word in
season to the dying woman.
"Oh, this racking cough! Shall I never be done with it?" gasped Laura,
as she lay panting upon her pillow after an unusually severe and
exhausting paroxysm.
"Yes; when you reach the other side of Jordan; for there in that blessed
land the inhabitant shall not say 'I am sick,'" returned Grandma Elsie in
low, sympathising tones. "The Bible tells us that 'God shall wipe away
all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither
sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.'"
"Oh, but I am not fit for that place yet!" exclaimed Laura with a look of
alarm, "and I don't want to die for years to come, though it is hard to
suffer as I do. You don't think I'm a dying woman, Mrs. Travilla?"
"You know, dear friend, that no one of us is certain of life for a day or
an hour," returned Grandma Elsie gently, taking the wasted hand in
hers and gazing tenderly into the anxious, troubled face, "and surely it
is the part of wisdom to make careful preparation for that which we
must inevitably meet, sooner or later. And if our peace is made with
God--if Jesus is our Friend and Saviour--it will only be joy unspeakable
to be called into his immediate presence, there to dwell forevermore."
"Yes, yes, if one is fitted for it, as Eric, Eva's father, was. Death seemed
only joy to him, except for leaving us. But oh, I am afraid of death!
Hard as life is in my weak, ailing condition,