I am not any too happy in
leaving you and taking up, perhaps, heavier burdens than those from which I
escaped."
"Night after night I've prayed to be the means of leading you to the celestial
life," said the Eldress, "but my plaint was not worthy to be heard. Oh, that
God would increase our numbers and so revive our drooping faith! We work, we
struggle, we sacrifice, we pray, we defy the world and deny the flesh, yet we
fail to gather in Believers."
"Don't say you 've failed, dear, dear Abby!" cried Susanna, pressing the
Eldress's work-stained hands to her lips. "God speaks to you in one voice, to
me in another. Does it matter so much as long as we both hear Him? Surely it's
the hearing and the obeying that counts most! Wish me well, dear friend, and
help me to say goodbye to the Elder."
The two women found Elder Gray in the office, and Abby, still unresigned, laid
Susanna's case before him.
"The Great Architect has need of many kinds of workmen in His building," said
the Elder. "There are those who are willing to put aside the ties of flesh for
the kingdom of heaven's sake; 'he that is able to receive it, let him receive
it!'"
"There may also he those who are willing to take up the ties of the flesh for
the kingdom of heaven's sake," answered Susanna, gently, but with a certain
courage.
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