Yet the thought often comes to me, "Oh that we could all go together! Oh that, instead of the Master's voice calling us one by one, instead of the terrible parting with one dear one after another, as they go gladly at the sound of His voice, He would come again, and receive all, all to Himself, He would appear to gather together in one His children scattered abroad, and that we, all of us together, might gladly go, hand in hand, to meet Him!"
The "Rules for To-day" still hang over the chimney-piece in their old place, and we are still trying; by God's grace, to carry them out in our daily lives. And the blessed hope of the Lord's appearing still stirs us up to live very near to Him, and to keep very far from sin, and still comforts and cheers us in all the sorrows and anxieties of our every-day life.
My old home has been broken up a long time now. My poor mother died the same year as Mrs. Bagot, and she rests from her labors in that Home where the weary are at rest. My brothers are all doing well for themselves, and have wives and families of their own.
My father gave up the business when Salome married, and went to live with her. He often comes over to see me, and the quiet of this country place is a great enjoyment to him. He is as silent as ever, and it is amusing to see him and Bagot sitting together over the fire. They have quite renewed their old friendship, and are very fond of each other; but when they talk together, it is an equal division of labor, for Bagot does all the talking, and my father does all the listening, and yet it seems to give them both the greatest satisfaction.
Salome came over to see us last week with her little girl, and in the evening I drove them to Calvington in the light cart. It was Salome's birthday, and she came over to see me for her birthday treat, for she and I love each other as much as ever.
It was a lovely evening, and as we drove along the sun was setting behind the distant hills. The sky was full of glory, golden clouds floated along in the deepest blue, like islands of glory on an azure sea, and then there were deep rose-colored and crimson clouds beyond, which looked like the glorious shores of this lovely sea, and which were constantly changing, both in form and color.
We were in good time, and we pulled up in a quiet bit of the road, and looked at the sunset.
"Don't you think it will look something like that, Salome," I said, "when the Lord comes?"
"I was just thinking so, Peter," she said. "When I was a child, ever after you and I heard that sermon on my birthday, whenever such a sky as that came, I thought it was the Lord coming in glory."
"But He hasn't come yet," I said, with a sigh.