"The Lord Jesus. I told her of Him once when I found her sad and troubled, and it seemed to do her good."
"You are a blessed little comforter! you must have taken lessons of your mother," he said in a moved tone, as he turned and went away.
Going down stairs, he ordered his carriage and drove over to Ion.
When he returned, Mrs. Travilla was with him.
It was a glad surprise to Mildred, a greater comfort than anything else but the arrival of her own mother could have been; for here was one with a heart ever tenderly alive to human woe, and far more capable than herself of pointing the sufferer to the only true source of help and consolation.
Together they watched, day after day, by the sick and dying bed; for the poor woman had indeed received her death blow in that last terrible announcement.
She said little, made no complaint, but lay there growing weaker, and often lifting her eyes to their faces with a look of hopeless anguish in them that wrung their hearts.
Then Mrs. Travilla would lean over her and in low, tender tones tell of the love and sympathy of Jesus, repeating now one, now another of the many exceeding great and precious promises of His word.
"'As one whom his mother comforteth so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted.'
"'Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.'