“He was dying thus, because he had tried to live as Nature said he should not live; and he had taken his own wages–for the law of the Maker is the necessity of his creature. His own children had forsaken him, for they were not perfect as their Father in heaven, who maketh his sun to shine on the evil and on the good. Instead of doubling their care as his need doubled, they had thought of the disgrace he brought on them, and not of the duty they owed him; and now, left to die alone for them, he was waited on by this hired nurse, who, familiar with death-beds, knew better than the doctor–knew that he could live only a few hours.
“Stooping to his ear, she had told him, as gently as she could–for she thought she ought not to conceal it–that he must die that night. He had lain silent for a few moments; then had called her, and, with broken and failing voice, had said, ‘Nurse, you are the only friend I have: give me one kiss before I die.’ And the woman-heart had answered the prayer.
“‘And,’ said the old woman, ‘he put his arms round my neck, and gave me a long kiss, such a long kiss! and then he turned his face away, and never spoke again.’
“So, with the last unction of a woman’s kiss, with this baptism for the dead, he had departed.
“‘Poor old man! he had not quite destroyed his heart yet,’ thought the schoolmaster. ‘Surely it was the child-nature that woke in him at the last, when the only thing left for his soul to desire, the only thing he could think of as a preparation for the dread something, was a kiss. Strange conjunction, yet simple and natural! Eternity–a kiss. Kiss me; for I am going to the Unknown!–Poor old man!’ the schoolmaster went on in his thoughts, ‘I hope my baby has met him, and put his tiny hand in the poor old shaking hand, and so led him across the borders into the shining land, and up to where Jesus sits, and said to the Lord: “Lord, forgive this old man, for he knew not what he did.” And I trust the Lord has forgiven him.’
“And then the bereaved father fell on his knees, and cried out:
“‘Lord, thou hast not punished me. Thou wouldst not punish for a passing thought of troubled unbelief, with which I strove. Lord, take my child and his mother and me, and do what thou wilt with us. I know thou givest not, to take again.’
“And ere the schoolmaster could call his protestantism to his aid, he had ended his prayer with the cry:
“‘And O God! have mercy upon the poor old man, and lay not his sins to his charge.’
“For, though a woman’s kiss may comfort a man to eternity, it is not all he needs. And the thought of his lost child had made the soul of the father compassionate.”
* * * * *
He ceased, and we sat silent.
* * * * *
END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.