Was I right?

by Mrs. O. F. Walton

"And the doctor said, 'I am afraid not, Mrs. Ellis.'

"Then I asked him how long he thought I should live, and he said 'perhaps a month or two.'

"And then he went away. I told Claude what the doctor had said, but he answered: 'Oh, nonsense, that doctor is a fool, don't believe him; you have nothing the matter with you; you will be all right when the warm weather comes.'

"And then Claude went out, and he did not come home till past midnight; he is always out till quite late every night. I do not know where he goes; he never will tell me, and he is always so tired and cross when he comes in. Well, that night I lay awake thinking the whole time, and oh, Mrs. Stanley, I was so frightened. I knew the doctor was right, I felt that I had not long to live, and then I asked myself,—

"'Where am I going?'

"I must be going somewhere. Oh, Mrs. Stanley, I felt that night, and I feel now, that the Bible is true; my own heart tells me so. I cannot doubt, now that I am dying. I made up my mind that night that I would send for you, but since then I have been putting it off. I was afraid you would not like to come, we have seen so little of each other; but then, yesterday, I thought I would just write and tell you, for there is no one else I can think of who would be able to help me."

"I am very glad you have sent for me," I said, taking her thin hand in mine; "and now, what was it you wanted to ask me?"

"I want you to tell me very simply," she said, "how to be saved; tell me what I must do to get rid of my sin—oh, Mrs. Stanley, I have been so very wicked, what must I do? I will do anything I can, if I only know what it is."

"There is nothing to do," I said, "nothing at all; if you feel your sin, and long to get rid of it, there is nothing to do."

"Nothing to do!" she, said, incredulously. "Oh yes, Mrs. Stanley, there must be something to do!"