Rock of Ages

Constant walked into the kitchen saying, "Mother, I have bad news. Tom has died of the influenza. I can hardly believe it -- he was only 22."

"He was so sick, I was afraid of this happening. Please go hitch up the horses while I get ready. Our bags have been packed for a week - just in case. Hannah will need me."

Sarah began putting bread and staples in a box, to take with them. She started weeping as she worked, thinking of her little grandson, John Colson, only two years old, losing his father. She soon called herself to order, and said a prayer for peace of mind through this trial. She would be no use to Hannah if she was in turmoil.

Constant came in to eat lunch, hitching the wagon and horses right outside the back door.."It is only a little after noon, so we can get to Hannah's before dark, can't we?"

"It's only eight and half miles, Connie, so we should be fine. As soon as you finish eating, we're leaving. Go find your uncle Samuel and tell him what happened."

"I won't have to go far, I think that is him coming in from the barn right now."

"Then please load these bags and boxes while I say goodbye to your uncle."

"Sarah, what is this about a trip to Hannah's? Is it because of Tom?" 

"Sad news, Samuel. Hannah's husband has died. We thought he was young enough and strong enough to fight it off, but the influenza has taken him too."

"Leah and I already talked about how we could help you if this happened. We'd like Caroline to stay here with her cousins. At seven she's too young to help you and Hannah."

"That would be best, and I thank you, Samuel.  Pray for Hannah. She wrote to me last week that they are going to have another baby in September."

Despite what she told her son, they would have to drive steadily to get there by dark. Getting a fast start helped, and she would push the horses the whole day- no dithering or dallying. Her daughter needed her, so she went. 

The sun went down, and darkness pressed in on them as the dusk faded. The moon peeped above the trees, over half full, but it shed enough light. The road ran straight before them, and soon they would be at Hannah's house. The air cooled down fast with the sun gone. These spring days were so short. Spring. Planting time. What would Hannah do now, a widow only twenty-one years old, with a two-year-old son, and another baby on the way? Well, she couldn't do much about it but pray, and that was what she did, on the long road to Hannah's. Some problems were too big for anyone but God. Sarah prayed for consolation for her bereaved daughter, for wisdom on how to go on, for the means to support Hannah and her children, and for the peace of God to be with them in this time of weeping and sadness.

Sarah's mother Hannah, raised a Quaker, was a woman of quiet and confident spirit. Now those verses her mother taught her when she was a child came back to lift her up, head and heart.  She started humming, and her son beside her began to sing the words, in a soft but steady tenor.. "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee." Constant skipped to the third verse, the one he liked best of all.

"While I draw this fleeting breath,

When Mine eyes shall close in death,

When I rise to worlds unknown,

And behold Thee on Thy throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee."

The lights of Black Oak shone out of the night. The Colson farm, on the western outskirts, was shining brighter than them all. Drawing a deep breath of relief, Sarah pulled the horses up to the front of the farmhouse. Hannah was watching for her mother, and came running down the steps, her eyes streaming with tears.

Sarah rushed to catch her daughter in her arms, murmuring words of love and comfort. Now others came from the house, a fine young man and his father by their looks. She recognized them as they came up to offer greetings. It was Reuben Daniels and his father, also Reuben. The father spoke to Sarah, "We don't want to intrude on the family at this time, ma'am, but we're friends of Tom. We didn't know but that Hannah could use our help, with all to do for the funeral."

Sarah gave thanks to God in her heart, for answers to prayers already in evidence. 

Sarah spoke for Hannah and all of them, "We want you to consider yourself part of the family. Tom used to talk about his friend Reuben. You are welcome to stay, and your help will be needed.