Blind and Lonely, But Still Singing
She had just entered her ’teens when she was stricken with tuberculosis. Sent to the Adirondacks, she did not recover. Later she went to the home of her grandparents, and there she died. She was a member of the Sunday School in the church of which I was then pastor. She had a sweet, clear voice, and on special occasions she was generally on the program for a solo.
When called to conduct the funeral, her relatives told me that the night before she died she became blind. Unable to see, she three times called, “Papa, Papa, Papa!” But her father was not present to respond to her call.
Not long afterwards she broke into song. Those watching with her were deeply moved as she began:
“Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.”[5]
She sang the entire hymn, even to the last verse:
“No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.
God will take care of you,
Thro’ ev’ry day, o’er all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.”
When the morning came, God took her into the heavenly home, and she had passed from darkness and pain to light and joy.
How a night of sorrow ended is seen when a man was