304 THE VICARAGE. 



afterwards went with his regiment to India, where 

 his wife accompanied him, and died, after having 

 given birth to a son. He remained some years in 

 India, and then returned to his paternal home on 

 account of ill health, and died soon after his arrival, 

 committing his child to the care of his sister. The 

 death of his son, added to his other calamities, oc- 

 casioned Mr. Neville to experience a partial loss of 

 reason. For three years he continued speechless, 

 his fine person became bent and wasted, and no- 

 thing but the assiduous care and tenderness of his 

 daughter, prevented his sinking into utter vacuity 

 of mind. His little grandson, although placed on 

 his knee, failed to attract his attention. 



During a severe frost, his daughter had left Mr. 

 Neville extended on the sofa apparently in a le- 

 thargic state, On returning to the room she found 

 him bathed in a flood of tears. She tried to 

 soothe him, but his tears continued to flow. At 

 last he pointed to the window and on one of the 

 panes of frosted glass he had written " poor John 

 is dead." This effort had afforded some relief to 

 his mind. He arose from the couch still sobbing, 

 and tracing with his finger the words on the 

 glass, exclaimed in a feeble tone " Poor John is 

 dead." 



His daughter hailed this return to reason with de- 

 light, but it was then only momentary. He relapsed 

 into his lethargic state, and continued so for some 



