, 1873-06-01
SHALL IT BET

The sun is shining from unclouded sky the
roees are blooming, and birds twittering in the
trees; the air is laden with sweets aud happi
mesa yet there is horrible jarring creeping
through it all, and, cropping in the darkness,
7ainly cry for lightl
Up in the chamber lies poor mother. She
cannot speak; she cannot move; can only raise
hor heavy eyes to us, entrcating, and fill the
sweet summer-air with her piteous moans.
Every weary, dragging breath racks her tortured
body. Her hands-those good old hands--are
| numbly clinched; the weary feet drawn up with
| suffering; the lips clanmy the face distorted
] and, weeping, we cover our eyes that We may
| not meet the horrible anguish in hers. tt.
Six hours has she lain thus, and may linger
twenty -four, the doctor says. =
A while ago. she writhed and struggled with
the terrible demon, and her piercing ehrieks
filled the passers-by with horror, and silencedt
the children at play. But now, her strength al
gone, she can only lie, moaning and gasping, in
the embrace Of the monster feeding upon her
body. Oh God forgive me it ]. do wrong to
share with others the horror that is driving me-
mad1
But what am suffering, others must and it
is = CRY for help am sending here.
4 few days ago, Death seemed beautiful to
me,--a sweet farewell to those who will stay, &
tender parting Of the soul from the body, and
loving welcome in that beautiful Other World
whose borders lie so near US. : .''
But to-day all is dark,-thick,' terrible dark
ness, that veils that mysterious land with clouds
Of pain and horror! =: -:
hy mother! ny mother1 whose. high intel
1ect and beautiful soul would have met Death
with outstretohed arms, must lie with all thought
absorbed in horrible suffering, and leave
gloomy sadness upon our hearts, that even the
memory OF her quiet, gentle life cannot efface.
Oh! why must it be so2 ~
Out on the steps, in the sunshine, lny the old
cat. She had been true to the work her Maker
gave her ; but now the mice played unharmed
near her, and saucer OF milk sat untouched be-
side her. Classy vera her eyes, and drawn with
"sbe cannot Ire" said the father, "put her
out OF her misery, boys."
One quick blow, and the poor, pain-racked
The horse broke his leg, and one t.merci-
ful shot i" freed him from his suffering" "
The train rhn over some cattle, and The next
days paper spoke OF the inhumanity that let tho
poor beasts '' lnger IN their agony # 80 long and
praised the man who stlast " put an end to their
beast, whose only existence is supposed to
neprotactedpain. A human being, With theprou1-
1se OF heavenly life awaiting, must Inger in in
conceivable agony until Disease has done itS
work, and the last throe Of pain has been given.
What is disease? It is no gift OF God,-no
diBpensation OF God. The a1perstitious idea
that the. Great, A1l-Loying Father tortures us,
body and soul, to crafty His twill, /" or fulfil
His secret purposes" is blasphemv,
Disease is aa earthly foe as the lion that
crushes the poor AfEcan,-as the fire that de-
vours him who comes within it's reach.-as tha
Water that browns the soul from him who an
terB it. =: :.
They are here; man is here God does not
send him within the lions grnsp, nor thrust him
within fire or water. (
Neither is the unseen monster, Disease. eent
to us; but, by breaking certain bounds, We find
ourselves in his clasp and, signing, say. tsIt Ia
Gods will, and we must bear it.n
Too late ia human aid to the feeble body above.
and the Father is coming to tho rescue. The
pain-eaten casket is crumbling, and angels aEait
The souls release.
She has kissed us goodbye; she has said hor
last fareWe0 yet must We stand in W1ld agony,
and witness the torture Of her whom We love.
Yes, hours ago the Doctor said she Was dying,
and yet the clock ticks away its slow time, and
she fingers. >, -. ~. .,....., e.
Should it BE- Il Should 1t be2 This is my ques-
:ion,-a question that must be answered. : -:
I have begged and 7 have prayed the Doctor to
yivo hcr, that which her eyes are piteously beg
ing, and still he shakes his head --,:.
. Ut is Eight! tits merciful ~: - ~
"Yes, but dare not"
/ Oh, pitiful covard!~ you see through world
blinded eyes! And that which would close my
nnther'g eyea in BHoet aleop relax tha stiffened