And therefore she did tremble within herself as she thought of the day, for the babe had wept oft during the night watches, and her eyelids were heavy.
She resolved therefore to brew some coffee to refresh her strength before her children arose, and so she kindled a fire and boiled water in a vessel.
Before much time had passed she heard the sound of little feet, and two of her sons assailed her, begging for bread.
“We perish with hunger!” they cried, and their mother hastily gathered victuals for the morning meal. Coffee was forgotten as she prepared the food and bade them sup, but as they partook she again took up the pot and poured herself a steaming cup, her spirit lightened as she smelled the sweet savor rising forthwith.
Alas, her joy was cut short by the sound of the baby’s cry, and she had pity on the child and hastened on her way to get him, for he wept sore because he was an hungered.
She fed him therefore, looking with longing eyes toward the place yonder where her cup sat untouched and untasted, and yet seeing her infant’s needs fulfilled, her heart could not be heavy within her.
It was only a moment thereafter that the sound of weeping reached her ears and she hastened to her other offspring, only to find the cup shattered upon the floor. She cleaned the disarray, applied ointment to the burns, (real or imagined she whist not) and comforted the babe once more.
Wearily now, she returned to sit upon the mat, beholding as she did so her eldest son coming toward her. He beckoned to her with his hand and said unto her,
“Mother, if I have found favor in thy sight, come with me a little while and see now the work of my hands.”
And he pressed upon her until she yielded to his request and followed him again to the hearth.
And it came to pass, that she gave a glad cry when she beheld what he had done, for there, on the hearth sat a crock of the coffee her soul longed for. And she held her son to her, and kissed him, for her heart was thankful within her, and her spirit was revived to meet the day.
