124 



LIFE OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. VI. 



mentioned that good symptom, which he did not, I fear. 

 Although I walk with difficulty, and lose some sleep at 

 night with pain, I can talk three hours, and stand on my 

 feet all day. I do not indeed complain, and have no claim 

 on your sympathy to the extent to which you have given it, 

 but I am none the less grateful for it, I assure you. . . . 



" At present Mary is living very low [she had burst a 

 blood-vessel], confined to bed, and suffering (but not much) 

 from pain in the chest ; she has no cough ; altogether, she 

 is as well as could be expected, and all immediate danger 

 is past. I think she will recover well, but slowly ; but the 

 greatest caution is necessary in all exertion. You can 

 believe it has caused us all much anxiety and alarm, which 

 are now, however, somewhat abated. From the doctor I 

 have not learned anything precise concerning the nature 

 and extent of the heart-affection. 



" Mary is as contented, calm, and even cheerful a sufferer 

 as could be seen ; it is the pain it gives others, not her own 

 sense of suffering, that afflicts her. Poor thing, she has 

 been sorely tried by illness and sorrow all her days. Pray 

 to God to restore and watch over her, for I fear anything 

 like complete restoration to health is hopeless for her. 

 Nevertheless, be not overmuch cast down ; I believe this 

 attack, which is a symptom, not a disease, may prove bene- 

 ficial to her ; and, at all events, it is to me a great relief and 

 consolation to know that she is under the medical care of 

 a very kind and skilful person." 



" SABBATH MORNING, March 20, 1842. 



" I am constrained by necessity to devote a portion of 

 to-day to writing you. I have engaged to deliver several 

 lectures to Dr. Robertson's surgical class. I have been 

 occupied all this week with preparation, and shall not be 



