How blessed the hope that pours its heavenly balm into the wounds of the sufferer! Poor Katy was painfully impressed by the appearance and conduct of her mother.

She had never before seen her so calm and resigned to those dreadful sufferings.

She had heard her complain and murmur at her hard lot, and wonder why she should be thus sorely afflicted.

She feared that some appalling event, which she dared not define and call by its name, was about to happen.

She dared not think of the future, and she wondered that her mother could be so calm while she endured so much.
"Katy," said Mrs.Redburn, after the long silence that followed the reading of the hymn, "I feel very weak and ill.