" There was something in the look and
manner of my aged relative which affected me strangely. Her countenance
looked unusually bright and happy, and her words had an earnestness of
expression which I had never noticed before. At the time I knew but
little of the different ways in which death approaches, and was not
aware that with the very aged the lamp of life often burns with renewed
brightness just before it goes out forever. After a short silence,
grandma spoke again, saying, "Have you ever read Bunyan's Pilgrim's
Progress, Walter?" I replied that I had, and she continued: "You may
remember that when an order was sent for one of the pilgrims to make
ready to cross the 'dark river', the messenger gave him this token that
he brought a true message, 'I have broken thy golden bowl and loosed thy
silver cord.' I think I have the same token, Walter. I feel that the
golden bowl is well-nigh shattered, and the silver cord of my life is
loosening, and soon the last strand will be severed, and to me it is
rather a matter of joy than of sorrow.
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