'But then--you see--he's been very badly abused about the head; and the brain you know--is the great centre--the--the--but, as I said, while there's life, there's hope.' 'And he's so strong--he shakes off an illness so easily; he has such courage.' 'So much the better, Ma'am.' 'And I can't but think, as he did not die outright, and has shown such wonderful endurance.

Oh! my darling, he'll get on.' 'Well, well, Ma'am, there certainly have been wonderful recoveries.' 'And he's so much better already, you see, and I know so well how he gets through an illness, 'tis wonderful, and he certainly is mightily improved since we got him to bed.

Why, I can _see_ him breathe now, and you know it _must_ be a good sign; and then there's a merciful God over us--and all the poor little children--what would become of us ?' And then she wiped her eyes quickly.

'The promise, you know, of length of days--it often comforted me before--to those that honour father and mother; and I believe there never was so good a son.

Oh! my noble Barney, never; 'tis my want of reliance and trust in the Almighty's goodness.' And so, holding Toole by the cuff of his coat, and looking piteously into his face as they stood together in the doorway, the poor little woman argued thus with inexorable death.
Fools, and blind; when amidst our agonies of supplication the blow descends, our faith in prayer is staggered, as if it reached not the ear of the Allwise, and moved not His sublime compassion.