Chapter 17—Encouraging Providences
Again I was called to deny self for the good of souls. We must
sacrifice the company of our little Henry, and go forth to give ourselves
unreservedly to the work. My health was very poor, and should I take
my child, he would necessarily occupy a large share of my time. It
was a severe trial, yet I dared not let him stand in the way of duty. I
believed that the Lord had spared him to us when he was very sick,
and that if I should let him hinder me from doing my duty, God would
remove him from me. Alone before the Lord, with a sorrowful heart
and many tears, I made the sacrifice, and gave up my only child to be
cared for by another.
We left Henry in Brother Howland’s family, in whom we had the
utmost confidence. They were willing to bear burdens, in order that
we might be left as free as possible to labor in the cause of God. We
knew that they could take better care of Henry than we could should
we take him with us on our journeys. We knew that it was for his good
to have a steady home and firm discipline, that his sweet temper might
not be injured.
It was hard to part with my child. His sad little face, as I left him,
was before me day and night; yet in the strength of the Lord I put him
out of my mind, and sought to do others good.
For five years Brother Howland’s family had the whole charge of
Henry. They cared for him without any recompense, providing all his
clothing, except a present that I brought him once a year, as Hannah
did Samuel.
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Healing of Gilbert Collins
One morning in February, 1849, during family prayers at Brother
Howland’s, I was shown that it was our duty to go to Dartmouth, Mass.
Soon after, my husband went to the post office, and brought a letter
from Brother Philip Collins, urging us to come to Dartmouth, for their
son was very sick. We went immediately, and found that the boy, who
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