Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-04

Mama is sinking" was the telegram
that came to me the 9th of last month.
It was too late for me to get to the
train that would make the connection
with the Madison train on the last lap
of the journey. | put my wits to work
TO think out connections for myself.
could not bear the idea of not getting
to her Immediately. That was Thursday
afternoon. ] decided that the Birming-
ham people certainly went to Pensacola
without going by Atlanta, Ga, so 1
went to Birmingham. Having missed
the southbound train, 1 got on the
northbound changed cars and railroads
three times before l got to Birming
ham. There l was informed that 'if
I'd watt how [ could easily make the
trip to Madison, Fla. But" 1 would
reply continually, its to eliminate
waiting and get there FIVE hours ear
lier."
I knew that the train reached Madi-
son from Pensacola at a. m. and the
one that 1 would have to wait for in
Valdosta would arrive at II. They got
busy after 1 convinced them of the fact
that l knew what 1 was getting into.
1 went to Birmingham, from there to
Montgomery, then to Flomaton, and
out to Pensacola, the last change, and
then l was on the last lap of my jour-
ney. l travelled two nights and a day,
but arrived five hours earlier.
You can't imagine my feelings to
know that she was desperately ill and
TO be so delayed made me uncertain
whether 1 would ever see her again. or
even the earthly tent in which her
spirit had resided. But God is good.
She has not suffered in these last days
and when she rouses she knows us.
In the midnight watches she talks to
me and it seems as if she must get
well. She has lived her allotted three
score years and ten, but to us her years
of helpfulness seem just as necessary
as when we were little children in her
home.
We have reached the point where we
cannot put our prayers into words. She
is ready to enter into the city whose
light is Jesus. and leave the pains and
in1rmities of earth. but we cling to
her. We realize the selfshness of 1t
and, like Hannah, in her sore tribula-
ton, we kneel before Gods throne with
our hearts trusting In His love for all
of US and try to be ready for the crisis.
II is lovely to see how her family
connection has laid down business or
family ties to be here. And 1t has been
such a blessing to every one, sister,
nieces, grandchildren and her daughter
to have her know us and tell us some
thing concerning the past and our con-
nection with it. Her vitality is won
derfuI.
Sunday we were sure thae she was
slipping away from us. There was
nothing to do but hold the fluttering
pulse, see the purple shadows envelope
her hands and wipe the moist brow.
Nourishment is the only thing we try
to give her, but again she rallied and
when Cora and little Helen came she
smiled and said, "Lizzie's coming helped
me so per cent and Cora's has helped so
per cent. 1 think 1 will get up for my
breakfast"
There are four little girls now here,
and they get along beautifully. They
are normal, so there are sure to be
storms; but the parents have been nor
NAL, too, so the children are soon at
peace with each other. There are dolls
and doll carriages enough to go round,
a big swing and a shady yard, so as they
have been taught to entertain them
selves no nurse is needed. Dell is a lit
tie mother to the younger ones.
Yesterday morning Janet, who is just
three, was "whiny." Every mother
knows that state of mind. Her mother
said, '+I will give you some prunes if
you will promise to be a good girl She
held out her little hand and four nice
fat ones were put in it. She looked at
them a moment and said: 81 must have
six to make me a good girl" Two more
were put there, and off she trotted, and
really was good girl all day. Wasn't
that better than to have said to her:
Take what | give you, and go on:
The children's devotion to their grand
mother has been beautiful, and since
her illness they have tried to remember
that a noise might make her worse, and
whichever one forgets immediately
seems conscience stricken. They nave