The gentle rustling of the foliage, the sweet, glad warbling of the birds, the silver sparkling of the streamlets, and the calm, deep flowing of the distant river, all seemed in strange discordance with the throes of agony, the wail of sorrow, and the knell of death.
It was the first time I had ever been brought face to face with sickness and pain.

The constitutional fainting fits of my mother were indicative of weakness, and caused momentary terror; but how different to this mysterious, terrible malady, this direct visitation from the Almighty! Here we could trace no second causes, no imprudence in diet, no exposure to the night air, no predisposing influences.

It came sudden and powerful as the bolt of heaven.

It came in sunshine and beauty, without herald and warning, whispering in deep, thrilling accents: "Be still, and know that I am God.".