"Poor dear! Have they come to you so early?" The motherly voice and pitying eyes were like sunshine to this girl who was not much more than a child, and whose heart was hungry.
"I suppose it is because I am so wicked," Esther said, hesitatingly, "but I am afraid I never can feel as you do about God's will. Perhaps it is his will that I shall go through terrible troubles. It frightens me, and I can't want to have his will done."
"Is there anybody whom you dearly love," said Mrs. Lyman, "in whom you have unbounded confidence, feeling sure that he will always do right?"
"No, there is nobody," Esther answered sadly; then flushing a little as she realized the confession she had made, added,—
"I did have somebody once—my darling mother—but she is gone. She always did right."
"How did you feel about her plans for you? Were you fearful she would always be inventing something wherewith to torture you?"
"My dear, lovely mother! No, indeed. She was always thinking of my happiness."
"And yet she was obliged to thwart your own plans and wishes often, I presume. Did you rebel?"
"O, no I was always obedient to my mother. I loved her so, I would not have grieved or displeased her for the world."
"There it is, my dear!—the whole secret. When once we love God with all the heart, it is sweet to do or suffer his will."