God looks afar off--for the years
that are to come--when you may be where all tears are wiped away."
"I know, I know."
"Don't let Ben think you grudge him the fullest measure of his
happiness and deliverance. Mothers must have a deal to bear. The best
of children are blind, I think."
Martha was crying quietly. "He was t' last left me. I hev carried him
i' my heart for months, till my heart is fair empty without him. I
wanted him a little bit to mysen. She's a good girl, is Mary, and I'm
trying hard to love her; but I've got a weight on me that's bad to
bide."
"If it's a bitter cup, drink it, Martha."
"My lass, I'll do that. There'll be a blessing in t' bottom o' it,
never fear. I'm nobbut standing as a bairn does wi' a cup o' medicine;
and when a thing is hard to take, its nobbut human nature to say it's
none nice."
"I am come to say 'good-bye' Martha; I don't want to leave you in
tears."
"Nay then is ta! Surely to goodness thou isn't going in t' dead o'
winter?"
"Yes. We leave Hallam to-morrow."
"Then bide a bit. I'll mak' a cup o' tea in t' little Wesley tea-pot;
and I'll toast thee a Yorkshire cake, and we'll eat a mouthful together
in this world before we part. We'll be none like to meet again."
She wiped away every trace of tears, and drew the little table to the
hearth-stone, and set out her humble service.
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