352 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. XL 



obvious, and it was felt that now, for the first time, Tech- 

 nology was having fair play. So passed the early part of 

 November, each day adding to the roll of pupils, and he 

 exhibiting an energy and freshness surprising to those who 

 knew the state of his health, the hemorrhage, which had 

 increased to more than the usual extent for two months 

 previously, being accompanied by sadly diminished appetite. 

 But his buoyant cheerfulness compelled one to forget all 

 this, and, while in his presence, to share the happiness of 

 which he had apparently a store, not only enough for his 

 own needs, but to spare for all around him. " It is a 

 becoming act of Christian thanksgiving," he wrote to a lady 

 on her birthday, "to acknowledge God's kindness in grant- 

 ing us so great a gift as life." Not the less did he feel this 

 that he never looked forward, but sought, from the time of 

 entrance on his public career, to " live as a dying man ; the 

 best preparation for a happy life ; the best preparation for a 

 peaceful death." " I spin my thread of life from week to 

 week rather than from year to year." About six months 

 previously, when visiting his friend Miss Abernethy, he said 

 solemnly to her on parting : " Janet, I am trying to live 

 every day so that I may be ready to quit on an hour's 

 notice." More strongly were his desires apparent in the 

 few words he addressed to her nephew, Dr. Niven : " I am 

 resigned to live." Such readiness for both worlds is difficult 

 to realize. This life seemed to him so full of exhaustless 

 springs of delight, that the only way of reaching in thought 

 his elevation, is by entering into the spirit of his favourite 

 words : " To be with Christ is far better." 



It has been supposed by some that he had at this time a 

 presentiment of death being close at hand. This has 

 originated in their knowledge of some of those expressions 

 of consciousness of his physical liabilities, which were 



