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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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