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〃I am； but do not be alarmed； Katy。 Can you be very calm？〃
〃I will try。〃
〃For I feel very sick； but I am very happy。 I can almost believe that the triumph of faith has already begun in my soul。 The world looks very dim to me。〃
〃Nay； mother； don't say so。〃
〃I only mean that as heaven seems nearer； my hold upon earth is less strong。 You must be very resolute； my child； for I feel as though the sands of life were fast ebbing out； and that in a few hours more I shall be ‘where the wicked cease from troubling； and the weary are at rest。' If it were not for leaving you； Katy； I could wish to bid farewell to earth； and go up to my eternal home； even on this bright； beautiful Christmas day。〃
〃O mother！〃 sobbed Katy； unable any longer to restrain the expression of her emotion。
〃Do not weep； my child； I may be mistaken； yet I feel as though God was about to end my sufferings on earth； and I am willing to go。〃
〃O； no； mother！ It cannot be！〃 exclaimed Katy； gazing earnestly； through her tearful eyes； upon the pale but flushed cheek of the patient sufferer。
〃I only wish to prepare you for the worst。 I may get well； and for your sake； I have prayed that I may。 And； Katy； I have never before felt prepared to leave this world； full of trial and sorrow as it has been for me。 Whatever of woe； and want； and disappointment it has been my lot to confront； has been a blessing in disguise。 I feel like a new creature。 I feel reconciled to live or die； as God ordains。〃
〃Do not look on the dark side； mother；〃 sobbed Katy。
〃Nay； child； I am looking on the bright side； 〃returned Mrs。 Redburn； faintly 〃Everything looks bright to me now。 Life looks bright； and I feel that I could be happy for many years with you； for you have been a good daughter。 Death looks bright； for it is the portal of the temple eternal in the heavens； where is joy unspeakable。 I am too weak to talk more； Katy； you may read me a chapter from the New Testament。〃
The devoted daughter obeyed this request； and she had scarcely finished the chapter before the girls came for their candy。 She was unwilling to leave her mother alone even for a minute； so she sent one of them over to request the attendance of Mrs。 Howard； and the good woman took her place by the side of the sufferer。
Katy； scarcely conscious what she was doing for her heart was with her mother；supplied each girl with her stock of candy； and received the money for it。
〃You need not come to…morrow；〃 she said to them； as they were departing。
〃Not come！〃 exclaimed several。 〃What shall we do for candy？〃
〃We cannot make any now； my mother is very sick。〃
〃I get my living by selling candy；〃 said one of them。 〃I shan't have anything to pay my board if I can't sell candy。〃
〃Poor Mary！ I am sorry for you。〃
This girl was an orphan whose mother had recently died； and she had taken up the business of selling candy； which enabled her to pay fifty cents a week for her board； at the house of a poor widow。 Katy knew her history； and felt very sad as she thought of her being deprived of the means of support。
〃I don't know what I shall do；〃 sighed Mary。
〃I have to take care of my mother now； and shall not have time to make candy；〃 said Katy。
〃Do you mean to give up for good？〃 asked one of them。
〃I don't know。〃
This question suggested some painful reflections to Katy。 If they stopped making candy； she and her mother； as well as orphan Mary； would be deprived of the means of support。 She trembled as she thought of the future； even when she looked forward only a few weeks。 There was not more than ten dollars in the house； for they had but a short time before paid for their winter's coal； and at considerable expense largely replenished their wardrobes。 The rent would be due in a week； and it would require more than half they had to pay it。
Katy was appalled as she thought of the low state of their purse； and dreaded lest some fearful calamity might again overtake them。 It was plain to her that she could not give up her business； even for a week； without the danger of being again reduced to actual want。 She therefore reversed her decision； and told the girls they might come as usual the next day。
When they had gone she shed a few bitter tears at the necessity which the circumstances imposed upon her of working while her heart revolted at the idea of being anywhere but at the bedside of her sick mother。 Then she lamented that they had not dispensed with many articles of luxury while they had plenty of money； and saved more of it for such a sad time as the present。 But it was of no use to repine； she had only to make the best of her situation。
Amid all these discouragements came a bright ray of sunshinethe brightest that could possibly have shone on the pathway of the weeping daughter。
Early in the forenoon came the physician who carefully examined his patient； speaking cheerfully and kindly to her all the while。 The sufferer watched his expression very narrowly； as he bent over her and questioned her in regard to her pains。 He looked very serious； which Mrs。 Redburn interpreted as unfavorable to her recovery； not considering that he was engaged in profound thought； and therefore his countenance would naturally wear an earnest look。 Presently she sent Katy to get her some drink； not because she wanted it； but to procure her absence for a short time。
〃Do you think I shall get well？〃 asked Mrs。 Redburn； as soon as the door closed behind Katy。
〃A person who is very sick； is of course； always in danger； which may be more or less imminent；〃 replied the doctor； with professional indirectness。
〃I beg of you； doctor； do not conceal from me my true situation。〃
〃I cannot foresee the result； my good woman。〃
〃Do you think there is any hope for me？〃
〃Certainly there is。〃
〃Tell me； I implore you； what you think of my case；〃 pleaded the sufferer； in feeble tones。 〃I felt this morning that my end was very near。〃
〃O； no； it is not so bad as that。 I should say you had as many as five chances in ten to be on your feet in a fortnight。〃
〃Do you think so？〃
〃I do not regard your case as a critical one。〃
〃I wish you had told me so last night。 It would have saved my poor child a very bitter pang。〃
〃I was not aware that you thought yourself alarmingly sick； or I certainly should； for such an opinion on your part would do more to bring about a fatal result than could be counteracted by the most skilful treatment。 A physician does not hold the issues of life and death； he can only assist nature； as the patient may by a cheerful view of his case。 This is not your old complaint； you have taken cold； and have considerable fever； but I think it is a very hopeful case。〃
The return of Katy interrupted the conversation； but the doctor's opinion was immediately imparted to her； and it sent a thrill of joy to her heart。
〃I was low…spirited this morning； Katy；〃 said Mrs。 Redburn； when the physician had gone。 〃I really felt as though my end was rapidly approaching。 I am sorry I mentioned my thoughts to you。〃
〃It was all for the best； I suppose；〃 replied Katy。
But Mrs。 Redburn was very sick； and even now the disease might have a fatal termination。 The best of care w