God is good and merciful, though his decrees are hard to bear.

Your mother passed away quietly half an hour since, without recovering consciousness." Frank gave a short cry, and then sat stunned by the suddenness of the blow.

The doctor drew out a small case from his pocket and poured a few drops from the phial into a glass, added some water, and held it to Frank's lips.
"Drink this, my boy," he said.
Frank turned his head from the offered glass.

He could not speak.
"Drink this, my boy," the doctor said again; "it will do you good.

Try and be strong for the sake of your little sister, who has only you in the world now." The thought of Lucy touched the right chord in the boy's heart, and he burst into a passionate fit of crying.