MARY CARPE.VTER. 77 



Carpenter's life the death of her father. Dr. Car- 

 penter had been delicate for a long time, so it was 

 decided that he should go abroad for the benefit of 

 his health ; and while away from home he was acci- 

 dentally drowned. He had been so good, so wise, 

 tender, and clever, that he was almost revered by his 

 family, and his removal was a bitter stroke. 



Mary had a most profound affection for her father. 

 There had always been a sweet confidence between 

 them ; they had understood each other, and trusted 

 each other, and when this dearly-loved father was 

 taken away, it seemed to Mary Carpenter as if " the 

 sun had gone out of her sky." But she could not 

 give way to her sorrow. Her mother had to be com- 

 forted, the family life had to be kept up, and in this 

 Christian home all were ready to sacrifice themselves 

 for the sake of the others. Friends outside sympa- 

 thised and condoled, and Mary felt very grateful to 

 them all. She knew that her father's life's work had 

 been nobly done ; she looked forward to meeting him 

 again in a land where parting will be no more. And 

 so, although it was a long time before she could 

 recover her brightness of spirit, she at least became 

 calm, and while still cherishing her love for her father, 

 she was able to resign herself to the will of God. In 

 short, Mary Carpenter saw clearly what thousands 

 have seen before her, and what thousands will yet be 

 brought to see that death is by no means the 

 greatest evil. Sin is infinitely worse. We can endure 



