A sick man turned to his doctor,as he was leaving
the room after paying a visit, and said,
"Doctor, I am afraid to die.
"Tell me what lies on the other side."

Very quietly the doctor said, "I don't know."

"You don't know? You, a Christian man,
do not know what is on the other side?"

The doctor was holding the handle of the door,
on the other side of which came a sound
of scratching and whining, and as he opened
the door a dog sprang into the room and
leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said,
"Did you notice that dog?
He had never been in this room before.
He did not know what was inside.
He knew nothing except that his master
was here, and when the door opened
he sprang in without fear. I know little
of what is on the other side of death, but
I do know one thing:
I know my Master is there,
and that is enough. And when the door
opens, I shall pass through
with no fear, but gladness."