It is Well A novel

Prologue

Asleep in Jesus

Wherefore as by one man sin entered

the world and death by sin; and so death

passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so

might grace reign through righteousness unto

eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:12 and 21

“Duncan C. Clarke, b. 1880, died of fever September 20^th 1808. Asleep in Jesus.”

“Therese A. Clarke, b. 1803, died of fever September 29^th 1808. Asleep in Jesus.”

“Edward N. Clarke, b. 1806, died of fever October 2^nd 1808. Asleep in Jesus.”

“Olivia Avalon Clarke, b. 1798, died of fever October 5^th. Asleep in Jesus.”

“Arryn Cameron Clarke b. 1791 died of fever October 12^th 1808. Eldest son, living brother. Asleep in Jesus.”

Aileen could picture her own grave at the end of the row.

Aileen Clare Byrna Clarke, b. 1796, died of fever October 15^th 1808. Asleep in Jesus.

She thought she would die that day. How she had survived the fever when all her siblings had died was still a mystery.

Now as she stood by her mother’s side, tears flooded her eyes and blurred the row of glistening white stones till all she could see was a bright hazy mass before her vision. In only three short weeks their bustling family of eight had diminished to three.

Aileen stood weekly in front of the fresh mounds, she felt her mother’s hand rest on her shoulder. Angrily she jerked from the tender grasp. Sobs choked her words and her expressions of anger were stifled in her chest. Why? Why? Aileen had asked when Duncan had gone to his grave. When she had stood at Therese’s funeral and sprinkled dirt on the wooden box she had asked again, why? Her hands had trembled as she heard the hollow echoing of the dry earth clunking on the casket. She shivered uncontrollably and finally passed out. Her waking thought had relived the scene over and over. There was a shadow over her memory for the next few days.

Vaguely she remembered someone carrying Olivia’s limp form from the bed beside her. The grating wheels of the hearse whirled through her aching head at the news of Edward and Arryn’s deaths.

Why was she the only one? She wished she had died like the others.

Aileen wiped the hot tears from her eyes. Looking up she saw her father standing at the top of the hill. His mouth was drawn in a tight-lipped grimace. Maybe he wished she had died too. Ever since she had scrambled from the sick bed he had avoider her.

Dear little Therese! His pet, his baby had been the miniature copy of Aileen. Maybe he wished that she had died instead of Therese.

Aileen shrunk from her father’s sulky presence to cling to her mother. But the words of peace flowing from Bridgette Clarke’s lips made Aileen reel from her side in defiance.

Aileen stood alone among the dead. She felt dead, numb. The beauty of fall didn’t revive her dynamism, no spark emitted light on the cold little heart at sight of the flaming leaves scattered on the rusty cemetery grass.

The graveyard was beautiful. The cool October sun glinted off the piles of bright leaves blown in crimson drifts by chilly Autumn gusts. Aileen could not have decorated the young graves of her brothers’ and sisters’ more beautifully than the array of orange, yellow and bright red leaves that gathered over the mounds still apparent in the hardening ground.

But all the magnificence of God’s creation could not dull the stinging pain burning in this twelve- year- old’s broken heart.

Aileen knelt at the foot of one of the mounds and wept silently. Softly behind her she heard the voice of her mother sweetly singing. How can song pass over her lips at such a time, in such a place? Aileen wondered.

“When peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrow like sea billows roll,

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well; it is well with my Soul!

“How can you say that?”

Aileen whirled suddenly to look at the resigned face of her mother.

“How can you say that things are well? They aren’t! They never will be ever again! How can you sing? God doesn’t care or He would never have let this happen!”

“Not so, my daughter.” Her mother’s voice was soothing but Aileen refused to be comforted.

“Not so!” She spat out the words vehemently; with disdain she repeated, “Not so!”

“Yes so! How can it be otherwise? Is sickness, pain even death part of God’s plan?”

“No, God’s plan was perfect. But man sinned. Man brought death into the world. God gave Adam a perfect world and Adam disobeyed. Now all men must live in a cruel world, full of death and suffering. But through Christ all fear of death is gone. You must understand that Aileen! He conquered death and sin. He became sin for us that we through Him might be saved. He has promised to come again and restore the world that we have broken. Until that time we must trust in His righteousness for our salvation. With such a promise hidden in my heart how can I not say that my soul is well?

“He has promised me a place in Heaven. I pity myself more than I mourn for them. They are in a better place!

“Little Therese and Olivia, Edward, Arryn, Duncan, they are even now in His presence singing His praises!

“Do not be angry at God, for in so doing you sin. Thank God for the way He has made through His Son. Thank Him for the life He lends us here and now. Even with evidence of man’s sin there is still beauty on this earth Aileen! Look around you. He wants you enjoy it, to live your life to the fullest, for His glory, as He would have you to live it.”

Aileen was torn. To her, it seemed as though her mother was a traitor to the memory of her own children. She closed the book of their lives with no regrets as one would discard a finished story. Aileen didn’t want to forget! She wanted to hold on. Yet somehow holding on made her angry, it brought no peace. Her mother had peace.

Am I willing to let go of my anger and grab hold of the promises of God? If I surrender to a tranquil spirit will I forget them?

The thought made her grasp even stronger to her suffering.

I will not forget them! Her own voice screamed in her ear.

Can I do both? Is it possible to remember them and still believe?

Finally exhausted from the struggle she wept. Some relief came. Some of the pain diminished. But it would be years before Aileen would learn to smile again. Before she would allow herself to laugh at a fond memory of silly little Edward.

Years would pass before she could trip down the empty halls of Mysterock Manor with a song on her lips.

Quiet years. Lonely years.

Mr. Clarke grieved silently throwing himself into business. Riches were added to the bank, luxurious articles decorated the stately manor house.

But earthly pleasures do not heal a broken spirit. Ross Clarke dealt with a sore heart by blocking out all memories. Anything that reminded him of his children, even Aileen, he stayed away from.

So mother and daughter comforted themselves alone.

Peace reigned and joy filled Mysterock Manor once more.

This is kind of random but I felt like putting it.