"And what made her different? Was it--that is--do you think it was
because she was to die so soon that she had a special experience?"

"Not at all," he said, promptly; "it was before she realized anything
about her condition that the great change took place in her. My
brother-in-law says that she supposed herself to be in perfect health
at the time when she was most marked in her Christian life."

"Ah! but you don't understand; I mean more than that. It is difficult to
tell what I mean; I mean--but you know, of course, _God_ knew that
she was soon to go to heaven. I thought, perhaps, he gave her a special
experience on that account."

"No; oh, no," he said, speaking with great earnestness. "Ester was
particularly anxious that no one should suppose her experience
exceptional. Little fellow though I was, it seemed to be her desire that
I should fully understand this. Don't let anybody make you think that
because you are a little boy you must be a sort of half-way Christian,'
she used to say, and her eyes would glow with feeling. 'I tried that way
for years,' she said, 'and I want you to understand that it is not only
sinful, but there is not a particle of happiness to be gotten out of
it--not a particle; and I would give almost nothing for what such a
Christian can accomplish. The harm one does, more than overbalances all
effort for Christ.' I think, perhaps, she felt more deeply on that than
on almost any subject; and it was because she thought she had wasted so
many years."

"Then do you think that there is, or rather that there should be, no
difference in Christians? Have all the same work to do?"