Betty had learned to know and love the Lord in her
old days; and because she had loved Him so late, she longed to live to
His praise and glory for the short time she might be spared on earth.
When her heart was opened, she spoke of Him with a thousand joys, and
with a full hope of the crown of glory which He had promised her. She
tended the sick, visited the oppressed, prayed for the poor and the
heathen, and distributed to the needy as the benevolence of Christian
friends put it in her power. In short, she was always abounding in
labours of love.
However, in the midst of all this happy work she was
seized with a dangerous illness, and confined to her bed. She lay there
from day to day, and week to week; and I believe she lay there till the
Lord took her to Himself. Betty was as happy on her sick-bed as she had
been in her activity; she prayed much, and repeated hymns and passages
out of Holy Scripture; and she thought over the good things which she
had learned, and the good land to which she drew near. One day an old
friend visited her—a teacher, who had long known her. He was amazed to
find his neighbour, who had been once so busy and useful, so patient and
happy in her room, and said it must be a heavy trial for the lively
spirit to lie there so quiet and inactive. "Not at all," replied the old
woman, "not at all! When I was well I used to
hear the Lord say from day to day, Betty, go here—Betty, go there—Betty,
do this—Betty, do that—and I was accustomed to do it as well as I could.
And now I hear Him say to me every day, Betty, lie still and cough!"
