Chapter XX. A Sweet Memory

esaid,stoppingbeforehismother,wholeanedintheeasy-chairlookingupatthepictureofherboys'father,— “IshouldliketohavejustsuchthingssaidaboutmewhenIdie.” “SoshouldI,ifIdeservedthemasEddid!”criedJack,earnestly. “Youmayifyoutry.Ishouldbeproudtohearthem,andiftheyweretrue,theywouldcomfortmemorethananythingelse.Iamgladyouseethelovelysideofsorrow,andarelearningthelessonsuchlossesteachus,”answeredtheirmother,whobelievedinteachingyoungpeopletofacetroublebravely,andfindthesilverlininginthecloudsthatcometoallofus. “Ineverthoughtmuchaboutitbefore,butnowdyingdoesn'tseemdreadfulatall—onlysolemnandbeautiful.Somehoweverybodyseemstoloveeverybodyelsemoreforit,andtrytobekindandgoodandpious.Ican'tsaywhatImean,butyouknow,mother”andFrankwentpacingonagainwiththebrightlookhiseyesalwaysworewhenhelistenedtomusicorreadofsomenobleaction. “That'swhatMerrysaidwhensheandMollycameinontheirwayhome.ButMollyfeltdreadfully,andsodidMabel.Shebroughtmetheseflowerstopress,forweareallgoingtokeepsometorememberdearEdby,”saidJill,carefullysmoothingoutthelittlebellsasshelaidtheliliesinherhymn-book,forshetoohadhadathoughtfulhourwhileshelayalone,imaginingallthatwentoninthechurch,andsheddingafewtendertearsoverthefriendwhowasalwayssokindtoher. “Idon'twantanythingtorememberhimby.Iwassofondofhim,Icouldn'tforgetifItried.IknowIoughtnottosayit,butIdon'tseewhyGodlethimdie,”saidJack,withaquiverinhisvoice,forhislovingheartcouldnothelpachingstill. “No,dear,wecannotseeorknowmanythingsthatgrieveusverymuch,butwecantrustthatitisright,andtrytobelievethatallismeantforourgood.Thatiswhatfaithmeans,andwithoutitwearemiserable.Whenyouwerelittle,youwereafraidofthedark,butifIspokeortouchedyou,thenyouweresureallwaswell,andfellasleepholdingmyhand.Godiswiserandstrongerthananyfatherormother,soholdfasttoHim,andyouwillhavenodoubtorfear,howeverdarkitseems.” “Asyoudo,”saidJack,goingtositonthearmofMamma'schair,withhischeektohers,willingtotrustasshebadehim,butgladtoholdfastthelivinghandthathadledandcomfortedhimallhislife. “EdusedtosaytomewhenIfrettedaboutgettingwell,andthoughtnobodycaredforme,whichwasverynaughty,'Don'tbetroubled,Godwon'tforgetyouandifyoumustbelame,Hewillmakeyouabletobearit,'”saidJill,softly,herquicklittlemindallalivewithnewthoughtsandfeelings. “Hebelievedit,andthat'swhyhelikedthathymnsomuch.I'mgladtheysungitto-day,”saidFrank,bringinghisheavydictionarytolayonthebookwheretheflowerswerepressing. “Oh,thankyou!Couldyouplaythattuneforme?Ididn'thearit,andI'dloveto,ifyouarewilling,”askedJill. “Ididn'tthinkIevershouldwanttoplayagain,butIdo.Willyousingitforher,mother?I'mafraidIshallbreakdownifItryalone.” “Wewillallsing,musicisgoodforusnow,”saidMammaandinratherbrokenvoicestheydidsingEd'sfavoritewords:— “NotasparrowfallethbutitsGoddothknow, Justaswhenhismandatelaysamonarchlow Notaleafletmoveth,butitsGoddothsee, Thinknot,then,Omortal,Godforgetteththee. Farmoreprecioussurelythanthebirdsthatfly IsaFather'simagetoaFather'seye. E'enthyhairsarenumberedtrustHimfullandfree, CastthycaresbeforeHim,Hewillcomfortthee FortheGodthatplantedinthybreastasoul, Onhissacredtablesdoththynameenroll. Cheerthineheart,then,mortal,neverfaithlessbe, Hethatmarksthesparrowswillrememberthee.”