Little Jennie was eight years old, March 30, 1886. The April following
she was taken very sick, and from that time until June 4, she seemed a
little suffering angel. Then Jesus, who had so blessedly sustained her
during all her sufferings took her to Himself. She would say, when able
to talk: "Mama, I do not care what I suffer, God knows best." When she
was very low, we would often see her dear lips moving, and listening,
hear her praying. She would finish her prayer and after saying "Amen"
having noticed that we were listening to her, would look up into our
faces to see if we wanted anything.
This patience and devotion characterized her whole life. Often, when she
was at play with her sister, who was the older by five years, when some
little trouble would arise, she would take her sister by the hand and
say: "Kitty, let's tell Jesus." Then bowing her little head, she would
pour out her whole heart in prayer to God, with the fervency that is
shown by a true Christian.
About three weeks after she was taken ill her little body was paralyzed
and drawn all out of shape it seemed. Then in a few days her little limbs
were so we could almost straighten them. What suffering she endured all
that time, no one knows but those who were with her.
May 25th, which was Tuesday, while suffering terribly, she said: "Mama,
play and sing." I took my guitar, and without stopping to think what to
sing, began that beautiful song in the Gospel Hymns: "Nearer my home,
today, than I have been before." I could praise God just then, for I was
filled with His Spirit. She lay there looking at me with her little blue
eyes and trying in her weak voice to help me. At last she seemed soothed
by the music. But we knew that Jesus in his infinite love, had quieted
her for a time, because we were willing to submit to His will. We had
said all the time: "Lord, not my will, but thine."
She rested quite well until about three o'clock in the afternoon; then
suddenly she spoke and her voice sounded quite strong. She said: "Oh,
Mama see those people, how funny they look! They look like poles." She
was lying so that she could look out of the window and as she spoke her
eyes seemed to rest on some object there. Then she spoke louder; "OH,
MAMMA, COME AND SEE THE LITTLE CHILDREN! I never saw so many in my life."
I sat down on the front of the bed and said: "Jennie, is there any there
that you know?"
She looked them over so earnestly, then said: "No, not one." I asked her
how they looked. She said: "Mama, every one has a gold crown on its head,
and they are all dressed in white." I thought that Jesus was coming for
her then. After telling me that there were none that she knew she sank
back on the pillows exhausted. But in a few moments she raised up again
and said: "Oh, Mama, hear that music! Did you ever hear such grand music?
Now, do not shut the windows tonight, will you?" I told her that I would
not.
The next morning she called Kittie into the room and said: "Kittie, I
want to tell you what I saw last night." She then proceeded to tell her
the same as she had told me the evening before. Then she said: "Now,
Kittie, you will forgive me for ever being cross to you won't you?"
Kittie answered, "Little darling, you have never been cross to me. Will
you forgive me, sister, for being cross to you?"
"Darling sister," she said, "that is all right."
Thursday night she was paralyzed in her left side so that she had no use
of it. Friday all day she lay unconscious, and that night the same.
Saturday, about ten o'clock, she commenced to whisper. We could hear her
say: "Papa, Mama." We tried to understand her, but at first could not.
She kept whispering plainer, and finally we heard her say: "Take--me--
upstairs. I--want--to--lie--on--my--own--bed--once--more." But of course
we could not move her. Suddenly she said aloud: "I am going to die! kiss
me quick, Mama."
I bent down and kissed her, and she looked so wretched. I said: "Jennie,
you will not have to go alone; Jesus will take you."
She answered: "I know it. I wish that He would come this minute. Kiss me
again, Mama."
I did so; then she wished us to sing. Again, without giving one thought,
I commenced singing the same words that I sang the Tuesday before. She
raised her right hand arm's length, and began to wave it and bow her
head. Oh! she was so happy. Then she said: "Play." They brought the
guitar, and she continued to wave her little hand, while I played and
sang the whole piece. One of her aunts, standing near the bed took hold
of her hand to stop it, but it moved just the same; and I said: "Ollie,
let go of her hand, that is the Lord's doings." After I finished, she
kissed her father, mother, and sister and bade them goodbye; then called
four other very dear friends and told them goodbye after kissing them.
She then called for a book and wanted the music teacher, who was present,
to play and sing a piece which she dearly loved.
Before she was sick she would have little prayer meetings, and her sweet
little face would shine with happiness. She would say: "Oh, Mama, how
the Lord has blessed me."
[Illustration: "They brought the guitar, and she continued to wave her
little hand, while I played and sang the whole piece."]
While the dear teacher was playing and singing her favorite she was
waving her little hand. We sang three or four other pieces around her
bed. We all thought that Jesus would take her then. Oh, what joy! it was
heaven below. Jesus was there and the room was filled with glory on
account of of His presence. Two of her aunts said that it seemed as
though they were in heaven.
She never spoke after that, but would try to make us understand by
motioning when she wanted anything. Sometimes it would take us a long
time, but she would be so patient. She was ready and waiting. She had
peace that the world cannot give, and, praise God! that the world cannot
take away. The dear little one lived until the next Tuesday afternoon,
and went to Jesus about three o'clock. That was the time she saw the
vision the Tuesday before. Tuesday morning before daylight she tried to
tell me something. I said "Sing?" She looked so happy and bowed her head.
I began singing: "I am Jesus' little lamb." She bowed her head again.
In the forenoon she kept looking at her aunts, Ollie and Belle, and
pointing up. Oh! it meant so much. It seemed to me that she was saying,
that it meant: "Meet me in heaven." Finally she motioned for me to raise
the window curtain. I did so and she looked out the window so eagerly,
as though she was expecting to see the little children. Then the little
blue eyes closed to open no more in this world, but in heaven.
--Mrs. L. Jones.