"And the gates shall never close,
To the city four-square,
There life's crystal river flows,
And there is no night there."
Paula's voice trembled at the beginning. Then presently the sadness in her tones disappeared, and they seemed to swell out like an echo of radiant happiness. Catalina listened, hardly breathing. Involuntarily, I asked myself if Paula in heaven would be any different from the little country girl I saw seated near the window at this moment. I had an instant's impression that a man was standing behind the door, but I felt this could not be, for I knew that my father would be at his office. A special light came over the expressive face of Paula as she continued:
"There they need no sunshine bright,
In the city four-square,
For the Lamb is all the light,
And there is no night there."
And then again the wonderful refrain:
"God shall wipe away all tears;
There's no death, no pain, nor fears;
And they count not time by years,
For there is no night there."
The sweet sounds died away, and Paula looked smilingly at Catalina as if asking her opinion of the song.
"What a marvelous song!" exclaimed the poor sick girl. "And, Paula, you have a voice like an angel!"
I did not hear my little companion's reply. This time I was not mistaken; there was someone there behind that door. Impelled by curiosity I ran to open it At first I saw no one in the darkened passage, but finally I could make out my father moving off down the hall. When he saw that I had discovered him, he stopped and put a finger to his lips, and made signs to me to keep silent, but in my surprise I cried, "Is it you, father?"
"Yes," he answered, "I came home earlier than I expected. Was that Paula who was singing in Catalina's room?"
"I—I—don't know," I hesitated, not knowing what to say.