mother's death.

"But time went on, and their talk, and not a word from Dr Bates of the
fashion I desired. I went to bed somewhat heavy. The next morning,
however, as I was sat at my sewing by the parlour window--which was
open, the weather being very sultry--came Dr Bates and father, and
stood just beyond the window. The horse was then saddling for Dr Bates
to be gone. All at once, they standing silent a moment, he laid his
hand on father's shoulder, and saith very softly, `"I will hearken what
the Lord God will say concerning me."' Father turns and stares at him,
as started. But he goes on, and saith, `"For the iniquity of his
covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid Me and was wroth, and he
went on frowardly in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and
will heal him; I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and
to his mourners. I create the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace to him
that is far off"'--he said it twice--`"peace to him that is far off, and
to him that is near, saith the Lord, and I will heal him."' He did not
add one word, but went and mounted his horse, and when he had bid
farewell to all else, just as he was turning away from the door, he
calls out, in a cheerful voice, `Good morning, Brother Jennings.' Then,
as it were, Father seemed to awake, and he runs after, and puts his hand
in Dr Bates's, who drew bridle, and for a minute they were busy in
earnest discourse. Then they clasped hands again, and father saith,
`God bless you!' and away rode Dr Bates. But after that Father was
different. He said to me--it was some weeks later--`Dolly, if it please
God, I shall never speak another word against the men that turned out in
Sixty-Two. They may have made blunders, but some at least of them were
holy men of God, for all that.'"

"I was always sorry for them," said Phoebe. "And Father said so too."

"True, my dear. Yet 'tis not well we should forget that the parsons
were turned out the first, and the conventiclers afterward. There were
faults on both sides."

"But, Mrs Dolly, why can't good men agree?"

"Ah, child! `They shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again
Zion.' No sooner. Thank God that He looketh on the heart. I believe
there may be two men in arms against each other, bitter opposers of each
other, and yet each of them acting with a single eye to the honour of
their Lord. He knows it, and He only, now. But how sorry they will be
for their