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AndthentheVicar,smilingthroughtears,wouldput
hisarmsroundher,andcomforther,breakinginto
arapturouscastle-buildingandapaintingofpictures
ofthisgreatnewhappinessandtreasurethatwas
coming.
Andsoinduetimethelittlecapsandfrocksandall
thetinywardrobewerefinished;andthedaycame
whenthelong-picturedtreasurewastocome.Itwas
there;butitsyoungmother’seyesweredim,andthe
prettyhandsthathadmadeitslittledressandlonged
toclaspitwerelaidbesideher,nevertostiragain.
“TheLordgaveandtheLordhathtakenaway–
blessedbethenameoftheLord.”Yes,blessedbethe
nameoftheLordforthatlovethatoutlivesthe
separationofdeath–thatsaddensandglorifiesmemory
withitsmelancholylight,andilluminatesfarfuturity
withalampwhosetremblingrayisthethreadthat
drawsustowardheaven.Blessedingivingand
intaking–blessedfortheyearningremembrances,and
fortheagonyofhope.
Thelittlebaby–therelic–thetreasure–wasthere.
Poorlittleforlornbaby!Andwiththislittlemute
companiontolookatandsitby,hissorrowwasstealing
awayintoawonderfullove;andinthislove
aconsolationandalivingfountainofsympathywithhis
darlingwhowasgone.
Atroubleofanewkindhadcome.SquireFairfield,
whowantedmoney,raisedaclaimforrentforthe
vicarageanditslittlegarden.TheVicarhatedlawand
fearedit,andwouldnodoubthavesubmitted;butthis
wasabattleinwhichtheBishoptookcommand,and
insistedonfightingitout.Itwasatediousbusiness.
Ithadlastedtwoyearsnearly,andwasstillaliveand
angry,whentheReverendWilliamMaybelltookacold,
whichnoonethoughtwouldsignify.Abrother
clergymanfromWillowfordkindlyundertookhisduty
foroneSunday,andonthenexthehaddied.
TheWyverndoctorsaidthevis-vitwaswanting–he
hadlivedquitetoolow,andhadnotstamina,and
