She said, "It's in Pa's hand, all right." Then
Mama began to read very slowly.
My dear brother Elijah,
How good it was to hear from you once more. Through the years
your letters have meant more to me than you can ever know, Lige.
This time, please overlook my delay in answering. When I relate
how matters now stand, you can understand why I did not reply by
return post.
A great thing has happened to me: GOD HAS OFFERED ME DEATH.
AND _I HAVE ACCEPTED!
Please do not grieve, Lige. This, the end of it all for me,
is all right. True, it is a solemn thing to lie for days on one's
deathbed, waiting, waiting, not knowing the day nor the hour of
the last breath. But that too has come to seem only evidence of
mercy, part of my cup from the Lord's right hand.
When the time does come, it will suffice if a kind eulogist
will say for me, as one said for Grant, "Let his faults ... be
writ in water."
Lige, my condition came about slowly. I felt poorly all last
fall and winter. For something like six months I had been drained
of all my vigor and former energy.
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