180 THE PURPLE CROCUS. 



strength of his attachment ; esteeming very I ighly 

 in love for his work's sake the ambassador of 

 Christ, who had delivered many a sweetly encour- 

 ageing message to his soul : yet it was the Lord's 

 will to permit the afflictive loss, and he strove after 

 submission. But never, from that period, did he 

 meet me without grasping my arm, and sorrowfully 

 adverting to our bereavement. 



But the summons came at last ; and after a few 

 days of suffering, I was told that his end drew 

 nigh. Wishing once more to receive his patriar- 

 chal blessing, I repaired to his alms-house, accom- 

 panied by the same valued pastor, — who had never 

 relinquished the intercourse of Christian brother- 

 hood with this endeared member of his former 

 flock — and also by one whose hoary head being 

 found in the way of righteousness, wore a far 

 brighter crown of glory than the coronet that told 

 of his rank among the nobles of the land. Oh, 

 how beautiful it was to see the peer and the pau- 

 per, both of very advanced age, looking together 

 into an eternity that was to irradiate both with 

 light and joy ! One, sweetly sinking into the 

 grave, like a shock of corn fully ripe for the gar 

 ner, and the other, with a heavier weight of years, 

 and an added weight of worldly wealth and honours 

 to oppress him, alert, hale, vigorous, and running 

 with patience and joy the race set before him ! As 

 the snowy locks of one drooped over the humble form 



