Take my hand." "You are burning up with fever!" exclaimed Katy, as she clasped the hand, and felt the burning, throbbing brow of her mother.
"I am; but do not be alarmed, Katy.

Can you be very calm ?" "I will try." "For I feel very sick, but I am very happy.

I can almost believe that the triumph of faith has already begun in my soul.

The world looks very dim to me." "Nay, mother, don't say so." "I only mean that as heaven seems nearer, my hold upon earth is less strong.

You must be very resolute, my child, for I feel as though the sands of life were fast ebbing out; and that in a few hours more I shall be 'where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.' If it were not for leaving you, Katy, I could wish to bid farewell to earth, and go up to my eternal home, even on this bright, beautiful Christmas day." "O mother!" sobbed Katy, unable any longer to restrain the expression of her emotion.
"Do not weep, my child; I may be mistaken; yet I feel as though God was about to end my sufferings on earth, and I am willing to go." "O, no, mother! It cannot be!" exclaimed Katy, gazing earnestly, through her tearful eyes, upon the pale but flushed cheek of the patient sufferer.
"I only wish to prepare you for the worst.