Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

during our western journey. And now a painful duty presented itself. For the good ofsouls we felt that we must sacrifice the company of our little Henry, that we might giveourselves unreservedly to the work. My health was poor, and he would necessarilyoccupy a great share of my time. It was a severe trial, yet I dared not let the childstand in the way of my duty. I believed that the Lord had spared him to us when hewas very sick, and that if I should let him hinder me from doing my duty, God wouldremove him from me. Alone before the Lord, with most painful feelings and manytears, I made the sacrifice, and gave up my only child, then one year old, for anotherto exercise a mother’s feelings toward him, and to act a mother’s part. We left him inBrother Howland’s family, in whom we had the utmost confidence. They were willingto bear burdens to leave us as free as possible to labor in the cause of God. We knewthat they could take better care of Henry than we could while journeying, and that itwas for his good to have a steady home and good discipline. It was hard parting withmy child. His sad little face, as I left him, was before me night and day; yet in thestrength of the Lord I put him out of my mind, and sought to do others good. BrotherHowland’s family had the whole charge of Henry for five years.*****Chapter XII - Publishing and TravelingIn June, 1849, the way was opened for us to make our home for a time at RockyHill, Connecticut. Here, on the 28th of July, our second child, James Edson, was born.While we were living at this place, my husband was impressed that it was his dutyto write and publish the present truth. He was greatly encouraged and blessed as hedecided87