It was her turn now, and she began at once:
“I have had a peaceful, happy life, both as a young girl and as a married woman, though some deep sorrows came to me years ago; first the death of a darling younger sister, then that of the best and dearest father that ever lived.” Her voice trembled with emotion, but she went on. “But then in those sad hours was fulfilled to me that precious promise, ‘As thy days, so shall thy strength be;’ and though I feel it to be only reasonable to expect other and greater trials in the future, I can trust my Heavenly Father to fulfil it to me again and again till I reach that blessed land where there is no more sin or sorrow or suffering.”
No one else in the room made any lengthened response to the invitation to tell of the fulfilment to them of the gracious promise “As thy days, so shall thy strength be,” merely saying that they believed it and trusted in it for the future, but as yet had had no very great trials.
Then Violet went to her organ, played a short prelude and began singing a hymn, in which all joined:
“In every condition, in sickness, in health,
In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth,
At home or abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand shall thy strength ever be.”