[1] It is a distressing duty. It requires the skilful and
delicate hand. But it must be performed. There is the
tender and delicate girl who took a cold some time ago. She
was better and worse. It was nothing. Somehow she became
weaker. At length she had only strength to lie in bed. She
is sure that with more genial weather she will recover. All
has been done. One day the physician, with grace and
sympathetic manner, tells her mother the case is hopeless.
Break it to her. How can she? There is a fear that the
revelation may accelerate the catastrophe. It may not. The
sick are not usually so much alarmed at the thought of
death as is supposed. At any rate, it seems only fair to
them that they should know the seriousness of their
position. If they are already saved, it will probably lead
them to plant their feet more firmly on the Rock of Ages.
If they are not yet saved, it may not be too
late.--_Rawlinson._