Paula the Waldensian - Eva Lecomte
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garden, and Teresa resumed; "After <strong>the</strong> doctor had gone that afternoon your<br />
mo<strong>the</strong>r called me and said, Teresa, tell me <strong>the</strong> truth. The doctor believes I am<br />
going to die; does he not?' I didn't know what to answer her. Your fa<strong>the</strong>r<br />
hoped in spite of <strong>the</strong> doctor's opinion that she'd pull through, and did not<br />
wish me to let your poor mo<strong>the</strong>r know that <strong>the</strong>re was any danger. But here<br />
she lay praying me with her joined hands that I should tell her <strong>the</strong> truth. She<br />
spoke with great difficulty and I feared that soon she would not be able to<br />
speak at all, and <strong>the</strong>refore weeping, told her <strong>the</strong> whole truth."<br />
"And <strong>the</strong>n?<br />
"Then she said to me, 'Teresa, I'm certainly afraid to die! I'm afraid! I'm<br />
afraid!"<br />
"'But,' said I, 'Madame, why should you be afraid? You have always<br />
been so good to everybody. The good God will take you to heaven.' But she<br />
could not be calm.<br />
"'According to <strong>the</strong> world's standard perhaps yes, Teresa--but before<br />
God! To think that in a few hours I shall be face to face with <strong>the</strong> Lord Jesus<br />
and I am not prepared!--No, no, let me speak, Teresa! I have done my duty<br />
by my husband and by my children, but I have forgotten God. I have not<br />
loved Him, nei<strong>the</strong>r have I prayed to Him and <strong>the</strong>refore I'm afraid to meet<br />
Him. Oh, Teresa, I'm afraid to die."<br />
"I could only repeat, 'The good God will pardon you, Madame. He is so<br />
good and kind. He will have pity on you, for you have never done any harm<br />
to anybody.'<br />
"'Ah.' she answered, if I had but listened to my sister and bro<strong>the</strong>r-in-law!<br />
How many times <strong>the</strong>y urged me in <strong>the</strong>ir letters to surrender to <strong>the</strong> Lord Jesus,<br />
but I always put it off ... and now I'm dying! Oh, Teresa, Teresa, can you not<br />
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