MORE TRIALS.
The next day Arthur returned to Mr. Martin's. His affectionate heart was
saddened, and every pleasure seemed to have lost its charm. But the
griefs of childhood quickly pass away; and Arthur in a few days became
calm and cheerful. A close observer, however, might have seen a deeper
shade of thoughtfulness in his eyes, and a softer tone in his always
gentle voice. He went to school again, and mingled in his quiet way,
with the sports of his companions. Theodore could not be spared from
home-duties to attend school in the summer months, and Arthur saw much
less of him than formerly. They would meet occasionally after tea, and
with Rover by their side, stroll down by the stream which wound in
fanciful little curves about the lot; or would play at ball, on the
green before the house. Arthur seemed less inclined than usual for noisy
sports, and Theodore sometimes thought he was a sad, stupid playfellow.
One evening about five weeks after Henry's funeral, Mrs. Martin said to
her husband,--
"It seems to me, Arthur is not well to-day. He has complained a great
deal of his head, and his face looks flushed and feverish."
"I haven't noticed him to-day," replied Mr. Martin, "but he certainly is
not a healthy boy, and I am afraid never will be."
The next morning, Arthur refused to eat; and before night a burning
fever had evidently seized upon him. A physician was called, who said at
once,--
"He is a very sick child; his head is so hot, I fear a brain fever. You
had better send for his mother, for mothers I find are generally the
best nurses. He's a fine little fellow, and we must try to save him."
Mr. Martin went himself for Mrs. Hamilton the next morning. It was
indeed heavy tidings that he bore. Was God about to strip her of all she
loved? Her little, tender-hearted Arthur was a precious child, and must
he be taken too? But she quietly prepared to go to him. That was
manifestly her first duty. There was no time for the indulgence of
grief, though heavy forebodings weighed upon her heart.
When Mrs. Hamilton reached the bedside of her child, she found him
delirious, and was shocked to see he did not know her. He was much
sicker than she expected to find him, and her heart sunk within her.
"Is there no hope, Doctor?" she asked, with a quivering lip.
"Certainly there is a chance for a boy of his age; but he is a very sick
child, Mrs. Hamilton. Twill be a hard struggle for life, and it is
impossible to tell what will be the result."
Day after, day, night after night, the mother bent over the sick-bed of
her child; her heart sickening with alternations of hope and fear.
Sometimes the pulse would lessen, and the medicine seem to affect him
favorably, and she would hope her prayers had been heard, and that life
and not death was to be his fate; then the fever would rage with renewed
violence, and his little frame would be convulsed with pain. At no time
did he appear to know who was with him, or have the slightest gleam of
consciousness.
He talked but little, and that incoherently; like one in a dream. Those
were long, sad hours to the anxious mother's heart. "How I lived through
those days and weeks of anguish, I know not," she afterwards said, "but
strength was given me according to the day."
And where was Rover, faithful, affectionate Rover, in these mournful
days? The poor animal moaned and howled perpetually. He would it through
the whole day and night, upon the stairs leading to Arthur's room,
endeavoring to gain admittance, and when driven away, would contrive to
return to his post, watching with intense eagerness those who entered or
left the room; continually making that dismal moaning which a dog in
distress usually does. It was heartrending to hear him. One day, they
allowed him to enter the room, hoping it might quiet him; he jumped upon
the bed instantly, and disturbed the suffering child so much that he was
never permitted to go in again. Poor Arthur! he no longer had a smile or
caress even for Rover, the companion of his lonely hours, the sharer of
his exile! He did not even notice him, except by raising his hand to
keep him off.
After three weeks of severe suffering, a change came over the beloved
child. The physician thought it barely possible that such a crisis might
terminate favorably, and had prescribed powerful stimulants, but it was
soon evident that he was rapidly sinking in spite of them. He suffered
no longer, but the shadows of the grave were gathering upon his face,
and it was not probable he would survive till morning. But Mrs. Hamilton
did not wish any one to sit up by his bedside except herself. "They were
wearied," she said, "by watching; she should not sleep if others
watched, and if any thing was needed, she would call them." So she
passed the night alone with her sweet boy. In after years, I have often
heard her speak of it. It was one of those glorious moonlight October
nights. The loveliest of landscapes lay before her eye as she stood by
the window, and gazed out upon the scene. Green hills, with intersecting
valleys, forest trees lifting their tops toward the sky, wide-spreading
pasture lands, and, threading its way among them, a little
mountain-stream, bright and pure as innocence itself; all these were
visible, and over all, lay that holy moonlight bathing each object in
its spiritual radiance. Who would imagine, to look on the earth on such
a night, that it could be filled with sin and suffering, that those
glorious skies bent over breaking hearts, and opening graves? The scene
was full of calming influences, and the heart of the mother as she
gazed, was soothed and elevated. She felt the presence of God who had
made the universe; and she knew that while he guided those glorious orbs
in their courses, he also felt compassion and love for her poor
suffering heart. _He_ had afflicted her, and He, in his infinite
power and love, knew so much better than she what was best and good,
that it was pleasant to commit all her interests into his hands.
Her older son, her bright, beloved boy, had gone she believed to mingle
his songs in a purer worship than that of earth, and would she call him
back from glory? As she lifted her eyes up to the serene heavens, she
almost fancied she heard his voice, saying, "He doeth all things well,
do not fear to trust him." And when she returned to her dying child, it
was with a feeling of sweet confidence. "I will not fear to trust him,
even with this darling child. His gentle spirit was not fitted for
earthly strifes; now it shall expand in an atmosphere of perfect love.
'The Lord gave him, the Lord taketh him away; blessed be his name.'"
The dying boy breathed gently, and looked as if in a sweet sleep,
sometimes a smile would play around his mouth, as if he were in a
pleasant dream. There was no perceptible change till nearly morning,
then Mrs. Hamilton called Mr. and Mrs. Martin. They stood in tearful
silence round his bed, (for they loved Arthur almost as a child),
watching his shortened breathing. There was no pain, no sigh, but as the
morning light gleamed across the eastern hill, the spirit passed away.