, and took needful rest
that she might keep calm and strong to the very end; and the dying eyes
never rested on her face but they read there, "God is good, and I am not
afraid."

And so the time wore on till the last night came. They did not know it
was the last night; and the mother lay down within call, for an hour or
two, and David watched alone. Will he ever forget those hours, so awful
yet so sweet?

"It is `the last evening,' Davie, lad!" said his father, in gasps,
between his hard-drawn breaths. "Strong, but not invincible! Say
something to me, dear."

"`He, also, Himself likewise took part of the same, that through death
He might destroy him that hath the power of death--.'" David paused.

"Go on, dear," said his father.

"`And deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time
subject to bondage.'"

"I am not--afraid! Tell me more."

"`I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the
faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day, and not
to me only, but to all them also that love His appearing.'"

"His gift, dear boy, His gift! Say something more."

"`In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved
us--'" went on David, but he had no power to add another word, and his
father murmured on:

"Loved us! Wonderful!--wonderful! And gave--Himself--for us."

And then he seemed to slumber for awhile, and when he awoke David was
not sure that he knew him, for his mind seemed wandering, and he spoke
as if he were addressing many people, lifting his hand now and then as
if to give emphasis to his words. But his utterance was laboured and
difficult, and David only caught a word here and there. "A good
fight"--"the whole armour"--"more than conquerors." Once he said,
suddenly:

"Are you one of them, Davie? And are you to stand in my place and take
up the weapons that I must lay down?"

David felt that he knew Him then, and he answered:

"Papa, with God's help, I will."

And then there came over his father's face a smile, oh! so radiant and
so sweet, and he said:

"Kiss me, Davie!" And then he murmured a word or two--"Thanks!" and
"Victory!" and these were the very last words that David heard his
father utter; for, when he raised himself up again, his mother was
beside him, and the look on her face, made bright to meet the dying
eyes, was more than