264 THE REV. J. G. WOOD. 



So far his wonderful courage and determination 

 carried him on ; but now, at last, he was compelled to 

 give way. Almost immediately on arriving he said that 

 he feared he was very ill, and, after resting for a few 

 minutes, asked that a prescription which he had with 

 him might at once be made up by the nearest chemist. 

 Alarmedby his appearance, however, Mrs. Bray suggested 

 that a doctor should be immediately summoned, a pro- 

 posal to which he at once assented ; and in a very short 

 time one of the leading physicians of the town arrived, 

 only to find him in a state of utter collapse from the 

 combined effects of pain, exhaustion, and want of sleep. 

 A brief examination sufficed to show that the patient 

 was in a most critical condition, and suffering from an 

 attack of acute peritonitis, with very serious complica- 

 tions ; so serious, indeed, that recovery, humanly 

 speaking, was impossible. Of this my father seemed to 

 be fully aware, for when, in answer to his own earnest 

 inquiry, the physician told him the exact state of the 

 case, he merely replied, " Just as I expected," and asked 

 how many hours he had to live. Being told that in 

 all probability the end would come in the course of the 

 following day, he received the information with perfect 

 calmness, walked upstairs with a little assistance, and 

 was put to bed. By this time the pain had become so 

 intense that injections of morphia were administered, 

 as the only means of keeping the agony at bay. Under 

 the influence of these he became easier, and slept 

 during a great part of the night and the Sunday 

 morning. 



