“I give my testimony to the Lord’s faithfulness to that gracious promise, ‘As thy days, so shall thy strength be.’ I never knew a mother’s love and care, for mine died when I had been but a few days in this world; and my father was so far away that it seemed much as if I had none. But I was in the care of those who taught me of Jesus and His love as soon as I could understand the meaning of the words; and while yet a very little child I learned to know and love Him. I loved my home, too, and it was a sore trial to be brought away from it. Then, when I first saw my father and perceived that he did not care for me, my heart was almost broken and only the love of Jesus helped me to bear it.
“That trial was soon happily over; but later in life sore bereavement came, the nearest and dearest being called away from earth. But even then strength was given me according to my day; and while grieving for myself, I could rejoice for them. And these later days are, oh, so full of peace and joy and love!”
Harold sat near his mother, and was the next to speak:
“I have as yet seen no very great trials, but in going into the recent war with Spain I felt that I was risking life and limb; but the Lord sustained me with the thought that I was doing so for the sake of oppressed and suffering fellow-creatures, and with that thought came strength according to my day.”
“And my experience was the same,” added Herbert.
“Mine also,” said Max. “When we went into the fight at Manila I feared wounds and death, but I knew we were in the right—fighting to free the downtrodden and sorely oppressed, and, knowing that the Lord had the disposal of it all, I had strength given me according to my day. Now you, dearest,” he added in an undertone to his wife.
Eva said in low, gentle tones:
“I have seen sorrow, losing my dear, passionately loved father before I had grown to womanhood; but my strength was according to my day, the Lord comforting me with His love, and as wife and mother, and having a kind father, brothers, sisters and friends, I am now a very happy woman, indeed.”
A slight pause, then Captain Raymond spoke.
“I have had many, many blessings and some trials also. My dear father died when I was a young lad, my best of mothers when I had scarcely more than reached man’s estate; brother and sisters had gone from earth also, and I was left alone, with small means, but good health. I was still quite a young man when I met a sweet young girl who had been, like myself, bereft of all her nearest relatives. We loved and married, but I had to leave her often, sometimes for long intervals, for the duties of my profession. We were very happy when together, but in a few years she left this world for a better, and the three children God had given us to my sole care, though I had to be away most of the time upon the sea. I have since found one to take her place—one as dear and loving as she was herself,” he added with a look and smile directed to Violet that thrilled her heart with joy and love.