THE HAPPY AND HONOURED CLOSE. 459 



an honorary member, and the old scientist would have 

 been welcomed with enthusiastic respect ; but his earthly 

 studies were now closed, and he looked forward shortly 

 to join "the great assembly" on the other side 



" Where everlasting spring abides, 

 And never-withering flowers." 



This he did ten days after the pleasant union at Elgin. 



He now gradually grew weaker and more helpless, and 

 his breathing became increasingly laborious, though he had 

 no suffering. To the last, he enjoyed bright intervals, 

 when he talked freely with his attendant, of the past and 

 the future. Mr. Taylor asked him one day if he had any 

 advice to give to the young who might read the story of 

 his life. He counselled them, amongst other things, as a 

 dying man reviewing his past experiences, " To keep good 

 company, and to study some branch of Natural Science, 

 which would save them many a blot, and inspire them with 

 untold pleasure." To the very close, the delights of science 

 and the intellectual and moral gains it had brought to 

 himself and would bring to all, were ever present to him, 

 and were the subjects of many an exhortation. 



He had no fear of dying, but was filled with a calm, 

 trustful peace in its prospect ; as he said one morning, 

 " I'm just waitin' my time." On being then asked if he 

 had any message to send to me, he replied, in great weak- 

 ness, " Just tell'm I'm deein' ! " " And are you going to a 

 better place?" returned John Taylor. "Ay!" was the 

 prompt, firm, but simple reply. " Have you anything to 

 say to Charles Black ? " " Just the same as to Mr. Jolly ; " 

 and Mr. Taylor says that at the mention of Charles's name, 

 "a glow of joy passed over his countenance, and his eyes 



