The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-08-21
Moral ano Religious.
The Doctors Experience.

Let me tell you of an experience of
mine that taught me the forgiving
power of Gods love more than any one
thing in my life. This was before /
gave my heart to Christ, while | was
still in the darkness of the shadows of
the mountains that | had created of
skepticism and unbelief. One Sunday
evening was sitting in my office lis.
tening to the church bells ringing for
evening service, and studying over
sad case | was then attending 1t was
young woman, an inmate of one of
those houses that curse this city She
was dying Of typhoid fever. Dissipa-
ton and disease had done its work and
left no hope. A rap at my door and
word that Nellie is worse" In few
moments l was at her bedside, almost
in the shadow of the stately spire of
one of our city churches. With sign
of recognition poor little hand was
held out and laid in mine. " Doctor,
can't you save me?" came from the
thin lips. Kindly as | could, told her
there was no help for her on earth, her
hope must be in the world to come.
Through the open window, borne upon
the soft air of autumn, came the music
of the organ at the church close by.
Soon the singing of hymn familiar to
childhood caught her ear, and as she
listened the tears flowed down her
cheeks, and at last, in the agony of her
despair, she cried, ooh my God, my
God, if | were only little girl with my
mamma again" 1t was the wall of
broken heart. | talked earnestly with
her, asking that l might send for cler-
gyman to talk with her and pray with
her. "No, no." she said, " please
don't leave me; no one can do me any
good but you. Ministers do not under
stand us. We have to come to you
doctors with our troubles, and you
understand us better; you know we
do not all live this life of sin from
choice, but are driven oft. Doctor 0his
time the request came hesitatingly),
"you pray for me. Please pray that God
will forgive all my sins. He will hear
you. Tell him how sorry am, and to
please forgive poor, poor Nellie"
How could pray, myself a sinner?
But power like the weight of thou.
sand worlds bore me to my knees, and
asked God to forgive this poor, dying
girl. Prayer brought peace to her
heart, while it added to the burden of
my own. A few moments quiet, then
saw the delirium of the fever return
ing. In her wandering | caught the
words, Mamma, kiss little Nellie"
! | thanked God that even in delirium
Nellie was with her mamma again in
their quiet, happy country home. No
tempter had entered there; the sun
shine chased the shadows across the
floor; through the open window the
! gentle breeze brought stories of ripping
brooks, of buttercups and daisies, of
singing birds, of cool shadows beneath
the forest trees. Another change-I
saw the end was near. The lips moved
and / bent forward to hear the thin lips
repeat:
"Now lay me down to sleep,
/ pray the Lord my soul to keep;
| If should die before wake,
pray the Lord my soul to take"
"Please, God, bless dear papa and
mamma and little Nellie" Quiet again.
| could almost hear the rustling of the
angels wings as they lowered above
that bed. A gentle sigh, loosening
of the clasp that held my hand, and
gently as the dews fall upon the hill
side, her spirit was borne to its Maker.
| returned to my office, but not to rest
The power that brought peace to Nellie
brought trouble to my own soul, and
only through prayer in my own silent
room did | see the first glimmer of the
light that grows brighter to me every
day. 1t still seems long distance off
but with the help of God l hope to
draw nearer until all shadows are gone,
and l can see my way to a life bright
and clear in the home of God.-ChriS-
| t;o, G,,o.,J;o,,