Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-11-08

lions! Dlu she tnlnk OF the long Ill
she had assumed was in store Cor her
or the past life she had lost forever
The great water Il pods were upoi
her; could she OF could she not &c
nigh to God?
Remedies were resorted to her, how
ever, hopelessly; but they proved o
no manner of benefit. She was e
be left Tranquil, and the room clear
ed of all but one attendant, the doc
tor said before he left. Il was Ma
ria who remained with Der, and she
was on her knees by the side Of the
bed when the Reverend Mr.. Lister
entered. Maria caught at his pres
ence as if it were a ray of hope. He
was a minister of religion, and seem
ed a link between this world and the
one to which Hester West was fit
ting.
"Mr. Lister" she slowly began,
in tone of deep feeling, sis it pos.
sible to give her comfort"
What comfort could be given to
one who was unable TO make motion
of response-to one who might be
conscious, but they could not answer
for it. He knelt down and recited
part of the beautiful office for the
Visitation of the Sick, and the
solemn prayer for soul at the point
of departure.
Mr.. and Mrs. West were in aud
out of the room, but there was no
change, and thus the night went on
to one o'clock, when the clergyman
was about to take his leave. Sud
denly, Maria called their attention
to the sick, bed; the eyes were more
rigid, the face whittier, the jaw had
fallen. ooh, look! lookw she
whispered. "There is an alteration"
1t was the last alteration that
could take place in this world. Hes
ter West had left it. They hustled
around her in their grief and excite
ment, but Maria drew away toward
Mr.. Lister, anguish and perplexity
depicted on her countenance.
allow can we be sure that she is
saved? Oh, Mr.. Lister can you give
hope of it,"
Reader, If that poor, feeting soul
was indeed conscious in its last mo-
ments, what were its reflections:
How many on anguished throe there
was going up for pardon; Her lit
tie span Of earthly life was over, her
vast span of life eternal was com
mencing; and she had labored for
the trivial interests Of earth, but
scarcely for those of eternity.
The funeral took place on the fol
lowing Monday. 1t was, indepen-
dent of its ceremony, a sort of
broken day for Mr.. West, for he did
not choose to pursue his outdoor
avocation, or go among his men as
usual. He sat indoors with his fam
lily in the afternoon; but he was an
active man, and grew tired of being
still. He felt much inclined to do
what he did on Sunday afternoon
go to sleep; but notion arose that
to go to sleep in the afternoon would |
be inconsistent with the funeral he |
had attended in the morning.
81 will look over Hester's desk" |
he suddenly said. 1T must be done,
and | may as well de it now. Bring
it to me here, Maria"
Maria went to the bedroom, open
ed the bureau, and took out the desk.
There was something underneath the
desk which might have been made
use of on that solemn afternoon-a
large book with old fashioned clasps.
She carried the desk and laid it be-
fore her uncle. "May | bring the
Bible as well?" she inquired in the
timid tone one is apt to use when
pretty sure of a refusal.
"The Bible. What Bible?'
''The old family Bible that has
lain with the desk, uncle"
"No, what should you bring that
for? Your aunt valued that book,
and it shall stop where it is. Which
of these keys belongs to the desk"
Maria handed him the bunch that
she had held possession of since her
aunt's death, and she pointed out
the key. Mrs. West looked up to
speak. 'Joseph there is note of
value in that desk. You had better
take it out for safety"
81 know there is" he replied, ain
he old pocket book" But | don't
see the pocket-book," he presently
added. turning over the contents of
the desk.
at is in the secret drawer, uncle"
Maria.
"Secret drawer | had forgotten
that there was one. How dye get
to i,?"
Maria touched the spring and the
pocket. book lay disclosed. He took
II out and looked it through. There
we're two or three old letters. two or