Bert Lloyd's Boyhood: A Story from Nova Scotia

  CHAPTER XXIX.

  THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW.

  A day or two after the rescue Bert began to show signs of what he tookto be simply a slight cold in the chest. At first there was only alittle pain, and a rather troublesome feeling of oppression, which didnot give him much concern, and having applied to his mother, and had herprescribe for him, he assumed that it was the natural consequence of hissudden plunge into the cold water, and would soon pass away. But insteadof doing so the pain and oppression increased, and the family doctor hadto be called in for his opinion. Having examined the young patientcarefully, Dr. Brown decided that he was threatened with an attack ofinflammation of the lungs, and that the best thing for him to do was togo right to bed, and stay there until the danger was over.

  Here was a new experience for Bert. He had never spent a day in bedbefore, his only previous sickness having been a siege of the mumps, andthey merely made him a prisoner in the house until his face regainedits usual size. But now he was to really go upon the sick list, andsubmit to be treated accordingly until the doctor should pronounce himwell again. He did not like the idea at all. To what boy, indeed, wouldit have been welcome in that glorious summer weather when there wasbliss in merely being alive and well. But he had too much sense torebel. He knew that Dr. Brown was no alarmist, and that the best thingto do was to obey his injunctions unquestioningly. Moreover, he nowbegan to feel some slight anxiety himself. The trouble in his chestincreased. So much so, indeed, that he found difficulty in speaking forany length of time. Symptoms of fever, too, appeared; and by the closeof another day no doubt remained that the attack was of a seriousnature, and that the utmost care would be necessary in order to insurehis recovery.

  When Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd learned this, they were sorely distressed. Suchperfect health had their sturdy boy enjoyed all through his lifehitherto, that they could hardly realise his being laid upon a bed ofsickness, and it seemed especially trying just after he had passedsafely through so great a peril. But they did not murmur. They committedBert to the Divine care, and with countenances full of cheer for hissake, and hearts strengthened from above, awaited the revealing of theLord's will.

  Day by day Bert grew worse, until each breath became an effort; and thefever burned all through his veins, as though it would consume him.Fortunately, no cloud came over his consciousness; and although he couldnot speak without a painful effort, and therefore said little, hisgrateful looks showed how fully he appreciated the unremitting care withwhich his father and mother and Mary watched over him. His bedside wasnever without one of them; and there was yet another who vied with themin their devotion--and that was Frank. Had Bert been his twin brother hecould not have felt more concern. He was moved to the very depths of hisheart, and with tears in his eyes begged of Mr. Lloyd permission to taketurns with them in watching by the bedside through the long hours of thenight. He was so affectionate, so thoughtful, so gentle, so trustworthy,and Bert seemed so glad to have him, that Mr. Lloyd willingly consented;and thus the four whom Bert loved best shared the burden of care andanxiety between them.

  Bert had never made much parade of his religion. It was the controllingforce in his life, yet it had not been in any way obtrusive. It hadgrown with his growth, and strengthened with his expanding strength; andalthough there had of course been many slips and falls--for what was hebut an impulsive boy?--there had been no decline, but steadfast progressas the years of his boyhood glided past. It stood him in good stead whendeath waited for him in the depths of Halifax harbour, and it was withhim now, as hour by hour he drew nearer the dark valley of the shadow.

  It seemed strange for the Lloyd's home, which Bert and Mary hadbrightened with laughter and song, to be so silent now, and for big Dr.Brown, whose visits previously had been mainly of a social nature, to becalling every day, with a serious countenance that betokened hisconcern. Never were mother and sister more devoted and untiring thanBert's. Their loving care anticipated his simplest wants; and but forthe dreadful feeling in his chest, and the fever that gave him norelief, the novelty of being thus assiduously tended was so great, thathe would hardly have minded being their patient for a little while, atleast.

  It was an unspeakable comfort to them all that his reason continuedperfectly clear, no matter how high the fever raged; and not only hisreason, but his faith was clear also. He did not despair of hisrecovery, yet he shrank not from looking the darker alternative fairlyin the face, and preparing to meet it. His father's strong, serene faithwas a wonderful help to him. In the quiet evening, as the dusk drew on,Mr. Lloyd would sit beside him, and, taking his hot hand in his, talkwith him tenderly, repeating Scripture passages of hope and comfort, orverses from the sacred songs they both loved.

  One afternoon, Frank was alone with him, Mrs. Lloyd and Mary having goneoff to take much needed rest, and Bert for the first time spoke to hisfriend of the possibility of his never getting well again.

  "I am very ill, Frank, dear," said he, reaching over to lay his burninghand upon Frank's knee, as the latter sat close beside his bed. "I maynever be any better."

  "Oh, yes, you will!" returned Frank, cheerfully. "You'll come round allright."

  "I hope so, Frank, but sometimes as I lie here in the middle of thenight, it seems as though it would soon be all over with me."

  "Never fear, Bert, you'll live to be an old man yet, see if you don't."

  Bert was silent for a while as if thinking just how he would saysomething that was on his mind. Then turning to Frank, and, lookingearnestly into his face, he asked:

  "Frank, do you love Jesus?"

  Frank started at the question, the blood mounted to his forehead, andhis head dropped. He seemed reluctant to reply, and it was some timebefore he answered, almost in a whisper:

  "I'm afraid I don't, Bert."

  A look of sorrow came over Bert's countenance, but was quicklydissipated by one of hope, and despite the pain the utterance of everyword gave him he took Frank's hand between both of his, and pressing itaffectionately, said:

  "Dear, dear Frank, you will love Him, won't you?"

  Frank's sturdy frame trembled with the emotion he strove hard tosuppress; his lips quivered so that he could not have spoken if hewould, and at length, unable to control himself any longer, he fell onhis knees at the bedside, and burying his face in his hands burst intotears.

  The ineffable glory of the sun setting into the golden haze of the westfilled the room, and enfolded the figures of the two boys, the onekneeling at the bedside, and the other with eyes lifted heavenward, andlips moving in earnest prayer, touching softly the brown curls halfburied in the bed beside him. For some minutes there was a solemnsilence. Then Bert spoke:

  "Frank, Frank," he called, gently.

  Frank lifted his tear-stained face.

  "Won't you begin to love Him now?" Bert asked. "If God should take meaway, I could not be happy unless I felt sure that you would meet meabove. We've been such friends, Frank, and you've been so good to mealways."

  "'Frank, Frank,' he called gently. Frank lifted histear-stained face."--_Page_ 320.]

  Frank's tears flowed afresh. It was not the first time that the questionof surrender to Christ had presented itself to him. He had debated itwith himself over and over again, and always with the same result,concluding to remain undecided a little longer. But now the time forindecision seemed altogether passed. The Christ Himself seemed presentin that room awaiting an answer to the question he had inspired Bertto put. Never in all his life before had the issue between God andhimself appeared so inevitable. He had evaded it more than once, but adecision could no longer be delayed. No sooner did he see this clearlythan the powers of the strong, deep nature asserted itself. Brushingaside his tears, and looking right into Bert's expectant eyes, he seizedboth his hands, and, with a countenance almost glorified by theexpression of lofty purpose the rays of the setting sun revealed uponit, said, in clear, firm tones:

  "Yes, Bert, I will love Jesus, and I will begin right away."

  "O
h, Frank, I'm so happy!" murmured Bert, as he fell back on his pillow,for the stress of emotion had told hard upon him in his weak state, andhe felt exhausted. He lay there quietly with his eyes closed for awhile, and then sank into a gentle slumber, and before he awoke againMrs. Lloyd had come into the room so that their conversation could notbe resumed before Frank went away.

  The next day Bert was decidedly worse. The suffering in his chestincreased until he could hardly speak. With great difficulty he couldget out a word at a time, and that was all. The fever showed no signs ofabating, and he tossed upon his bed hour after hour, while with ice andfan and cooling applications Mrs. Lloyd and Mary strove hard to give himease.

  Dr. Brown made no attempt to conceal his anxiety.

  "The crisis is near at hand," he said. "There is nothing more that I cando for him. He has reached a point where your prayers can do more forhim than my poor medicines."

  Although her heart was torn with anguish unspeakable, Mrs. Lloyd'sfortitude never for a moment faltered. So serene was her bearing in thesick chamber that Mary, from whom the gravity of her brother's case hadbeen so far as possible concealed, had yet no thought but that he wouldinfallibly win his way back to health.

  As he grew weaker and his sufferings more intense, Bert evidently felteasiest when all three of his own household were with him at once, andwhen Frank was there also, his satisfaction seemed complete. He spokebut little, and then only a word or two at a time. Dr. Chrystal came tosee him frequently, and was always greeted with a glad smile of welcome.Taking the Bible, he would, in his rich mellow voice, read somecomforting passage, and then pray with deep trustful earnestness,inspiring and strengthening the anxious watchers, and leaving behind himan atmosphere of peace.

  On Friday night the crisis came. After tossing and tumbling aboutfeverishly all day, as the evening shadows fell, Bert sank into a deepstupor, and Dr. Brown, with a lump in his throat that almost choked hisutterance, said plainly that unless he rallied before morning therewould be no further hope. In an agony of prayer Mrs. Lloyd knelt by herdarling's bedside, while in an adjoining room Mr. Lloyd, and Mary, andDr. Chrystal, and Frank sat together, praying and waiting, and strivingto comfort one another. The long hours of agonising uncertainty draggedslowly by. Every few minutes some one would steal on tiptoe to the sickchamber, and on their return met fond faces full of eager questioningawaiting them, only to answer with a sad shake of the head that meant noray of hope yet.

  At length the dawn began to flush the east, and with crimson radiancelight up the great unmeasured dome, putting out the stars that had shoneas watch fires throughout the night. Mrs. Lloyd had risen from herknees, and was sitting close beside the bed, watching every breath thatBert drew; for who could say which one would be the last? The daylightstole swiftly into the room, making the night-light no longer necessary,and she moved softly to put it out. As she returned to her post, andstood for a moment gazing with an unutterable tenderness at the belovedface lying so still upon the pillow, a thrill of joy shot through her,for a change seemed to have taken place; the flushed features hadassumed a more natural hue, and the breath came more easily. Scarcelydaring to hope, she stood as if entranced. Presently a tremor ranthrough Bert's frame, he stirred uneasily, sighed heavily, and then, asnaturally as a babe awaking, opened wide his big, brown eyes.

  Seeing his mother just before him, he gave a glad smile, lifted up hishands as though to embrace her, and said, without any apparentdifficulty:

  "You dear, darling mother."

  Completely overcome with joy, Mrs. Lloyd threw herself down beside herboy and kissed him passionately, exclaiming: "Thank God! Thank God! He'ssaved;" and then, springing up, hastened out to tell the others the goodnews.

  Dr. Brown, who had been resting in the study, was instantly summoned,and the moment he saw Bert his face became radiant. Turning to Mrs.Lloyd, he shook her hand warmly, saying:

  "The worst is over. He'll come round all right now, and you may thankyour prayers, madam, and not my medicines."

  Great was the rejoicing in the Lloyd household. No words would expresstheir gladness; and when school-time came Frank, utterly unable tocontain himself, rushed off to Dr. Johnston's, and astonished theassembled pupils by shouting at the top of his voice:

  "Hurrah, boys! Bert's not going to die. He'll soon be well again."