7^2 



that the life of their master might be spared to complete this his 

 last monument. It was ordained otherwise. On the 28th, of Nov., 

 1887, while working on the Grape Vines of North America, in- 

 cluded in the order Vitacas, he was stricken with paralysis, and 

 for just nine weeks, he lingered between life and death. His 

 recovery was impossible, and on the 30th of Jan., 1888, he quietly 

 breathed his last. His death is a great blow to American botan- 

 ists and a sad loss to his wide circle of friends. His light step and 

 cheery voice will be sadly missed from the Cambridge Herbarium. 

 Ever ready to assist and counsel those who came to him for ad- 

 vice, he leaves behind him many sad but grateful hearts. But he 

 still lives in his works, and as long as the science of botany is 

 studied, his name will be a famiHar one. 



The funeral services took place on Feb. 2nd, in Appleton 

 Chapel, Harvard University, and were conducted by the Rev. 

 Alex. McKensie, who made an impressive address, and by the 

 Rev. F. G. Peabody, who read passages from the Bible. The 

 floral decorations were very simple but beautiful, consisting of 

 evergreens and wreaths of white flowers, which were arranged on 

 and around the pulpit. On the coffin lay two palm leaves. The 

 music was sung by a choir of boys, and the last hymn, a favorite 

 of Dr. Gray's, and one which he had requested might be sung at 

 his funeral, was as follows : 



O thou true life of all that live ! 



Who dost, unmoved, all motion sway; 

 Who dost the morn and evening give, 



And through its changes guide the day; 



Thy light upon our evening pour, 



So may our souls no sunset see; 

 But death to us an open door 



To an eternal morning be. 



The pall-bearers were Dr. Morrill Wyman, Mr. Epes Dixwell, 

 Dr. Sereno Watson, Prof. Jos, Lovering, Prof. Fred. G. Putnam 

 and Prof. D. C. Eaton. The interment took place at Mt. Aub- 

 urn with a prayer at the grave. Dr. Gray's influence on the 

 science of American Botany can hardly be over-estimated, and 

 the world is richer for his having lived in it. 



