If the child died, he would feel, all his life long, like a murderer, and go through the world as with the brand of Cain upon his brow.
Towards evening of that day, Phil found him sitting in an out-of-the-way corner, quite overwhelmed with trouble.
"I can't bear it, Phil!" he sobbed. "For baby to be took and me left is too dreadful; me, too, that nobody cares for and nobody wants!"
For all answer Phil nestled close to his friend, and passed a loving arm round his neck. He felt that such trouble as this could not be comforted by mere words, but he also felt that for every burdened heart comfort might be found where he—Phil—had often found it before during his sad young life.
The place where the lads were sitting was quiet and solitary enough, and the darkness was fast stealing on, softly shadowing earth and sky.
By his friend's side Phil knelt, still with an arm round Tad's neck, and then the boy's tender sympathy and loving pity found a voice in fervent prayer to Him Who on earth healed the sick with a word or a touch, and raised the dead, and forgave the sins of those who had gone astray.
For the little life now trembling in the balance, Phil wrestled with cries and tears. For forgiveness for the past, for help in time to come, for strength to do the right whatever might happen—the childish voice, broken by sobs, rose in passionate supplication, thrilling Tad's heart through and through with the consciousness of some unseen Presence, and bringing back to his memory words long forgotten, "'Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.'"
With hands close clasped, and streaming eyes lifted towards the sky, the awe-struck lad gazed and gazed, half fearing to see, half expecting some visible sign to appear in the dark heavens above him, in answer to that urgent cry for help.
Once more the sweet, plaintive voice broke, sending forth sobbingly the words, so touching in their simplicity,—
"Dear Lord, Thou knows all we want to say and can't. Do it for us; Thou can, and Thou art willin', that we know, cos Thou said so. Send us a answer of peace, for Thy own sake, Amen."