"I expect not, Rob; you see 'twill be pulled down soon, and you know it is very nice for Mr. Jasper not to have to turn out, and I expect Jesus knew how 'twas troubling him, and so He took him right away, and we must be very glad for him, Rob."
But Rob could find no comfort anywhere, and poor Mrs. Mellor was sorely perplexed to know what to do with her tearful boys; but by-and-by she reminded them of what Jasper had said only the night before—that they must read to her, and sing to her, as they had done to him.
So Phil got out his Bible and read, and Rob tried to listen; but ere long, wearied with his sorrow, he fell asleep, and so forgot for a while the grief that had filled his heart. But Phil sat up talking to his mother; the sudden death of the old man had touched her not a little.
"To think that this time last night I was talking to him," she said, "and now he's dead. It's enough to make one shiver, when you see how soon anybody may be gone."
And so Phil, in his simple way, told her all he knew of God's plan of salvation. "And if we come to Jesus, mother, and ask Him to forgive us, He will, and He'll wash away all our sins, and then, if our sins are all gone, we needn't be afraid to die."
"And how do you know that your sins are all gone, Phil?"
"Why, mother, because I asked Jesus to take them away, and He promised to do it for every one who asks; and I'm sure He keeps His promises."
And when Phil had fallen asleep his mother lay awake, restlessly tossing to and fro, recalling what her boy had said. There rose before her the memory of a life-time's sin. Could all that be forgiven at once? Nay, surely not. She must make herself a little better before she could expect God to help her. But (and a shudder passed through her) perhaps while she was trying to make herself better the call might come to her, as it had to Jasper, and find her not ready. So, haunted by fear, and yet inspired by hope, she lay thinking, thinking, thinking, quite unconscious that the Saviour Himself was standing by her side, unseen, indeed, but none the less really there, waiting to take the burden of a life's sins away. She was very near the kingdom, for she had seen herself a sinner, and er long would come the message to her troubled heart, "Daughter, be of good cheer. Thy sins, which are many, are all forgiven."