Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-06-18
CHAPTER II.
MRS. TEMPLE DELIVERS A FAREWELL SER
MON ON LIFE.

CHAPTER II.
n TEMPLE DELIVERS A FAREWELL SER
MON ON LIFE.
Winter darkened on apace, and while
the old woman's h5alth more visibly de-
clined, Sophia was panied to find that she
would not allow the idea of death to near her.
From occasional remarks that she let fall, it
seemed that Mrs. Temple was willfully main
tanning this deluBion of returning strength,
with an undercurrent of conviction that she
was to die after all. But to Sophia she always
spoke as if her recovery were a certainty;
and she even said one day: Next year
shall go to Paris and the year after that to
Vienna"
Mamma" Sophia said seriously, when she
heard this extraordinary speech, "next year!
and the year after that! Does it never strike
you how uncertain life Isl"
"Of course life is uncertain, " the old woman
replied briskly. 81 never knew the time
when it was anything else. But we must
make our arrangements, and then take our
chance. You were taught to dance when
you were seven years old, although you would
not require it for nine years more, and life
was as uncertain then as now. Still, it would
never have done not to have taught you to
dance"
eyes, but when one is weak and sick these
things seem to come nearer, don't they,
mammal Sophia said with the greatest ten
derness.
"Seem to come, Sophy! They do come
nearer. Wish they did not. But that is no
reason why we should bring them nearer still
by our own reflections and gueSses."
"But, mamma" Sophia said, now resolved
to press the matter, fought we not at such
times to think a little about the other world,
and prepare for it?'
"Prepare for the other world" the old
woman exclaimed, impatiently. "Tell me,
how shall we do it? You talk as if one could
make ready for the other world like a flower
show Or ball. l don't know anything about
the other world. 1 hope everything will be
right, but there is nothing l can do"
"See a clergyman, mamma" Sophia said,
growing timid before her mothers unwaver-
ing hardness. "See Mr.. Knox. He is very
kind, l am sure, and not the sort of man to
excite YOU"
Every well, Sophy," her mother retorted,
getting a little flushed with excitement, but
speaking with sarcastic self-repression. "Let
us suppose Mr.. Knox comes to see me. / can
tell you what will happen. He will have a
black book with him, which at first he will
try to keep out of sight, and he will edge it
into view as he is talking about the weather.
That will be a signal to me of what is COM
ing. Then he will begin by saying that this
is a world full of pain and care and trouble"
She hit off the clergyman's voice exactly,
but more, it seemed, from her old habit of
r;dicule than from any present wish to be
fippant. "If l say what 1 think, 1 shall
answer, Not a bit of it; it is a cozy, bright
world enough, and l never complained of it,
Then he will go on and talk about loving the
world. Well 1 ought to say, 4 do love it,
and never more than now when l am shut
out from it, Yes he will say, but
people ought to be serious 'Seriousr
l shall answer. Believe me, the per-
son who produces one hearty laugh from
another does good in the world. Serious, in
deed! give me round faces, not long ones
Won't this be improving talk, Sophy, and do
good to me and good to Mr.. Knox? Then he
will talk about sickness being a blessing, and
If I give him my mind I shall say that sick
ness is one of the few things l know which Is
an unmitigated bother and perplexity. Won't
that make Knox whistle2 He will feel he
pust put me down; and next he will say we
are all sinners. What then? II l say the
truth shall answer: 4 don't see it. Ihave
done my best in life. have not been a liar,
or a thief, or cruel. Enjoyment came to me
and l took it, and what a fool l should have
been if / had not taken it! But l nave tried
to be a good mother and a kind friend, and
though l don't mean to say that l lave not
often been in fault like other people, still l
have never done anything to make a fuss
about. The Almighty won't judge us for
mistakes and little slips of temper-that l am
quite sure of. l have always gone to church
when l could, and if there is any better way
to heaven than that / don't know it, nor any
body else So please, Sophy, don't nave Mr..
Knox here; either / say what l do think and
shock him, or I say what I don't think, which
is not likely to do any good to anybody"
"But, mamma, " Sophia went on, "do you
never feel as if you wanted something better
than this worldl 1t is very happy and all
that while it lasts; but do you neUer wish for
anotherg'
"Never, Sophial" hey mother replied, now
with distinct harshEess in her voice. 81 have
told you a hundred times. l am satisfied
with the world, and with other people, and
with myself. tell you l find only one fault
with the world-I want it to last, and it
won't"
This reply was delivered in a way that
finally closed the conversation, and Sophia
never dared again allude to the subject.
December drew to its close, and she saw
that her mother was more and more declining
in strength, and that even her Unsuitable ap-
petite for the world itself was departing.
She no longer cared to hear the talk Of the
town Her beloved Morning Post would lie
day after day unopened. The little meals,
which she used to take with the eageyness Of
one who Is determined to overcome illness,
were now languidly put aside to another
hour. She slept more frequently, and every
thing showed plainly that she was quitting