o44 THE CLOSE. 



His work was done. Ever since his severe illness in 

 the spring of 1855, owing to the state in which his lungs 

 were ascertained to be, he evidently knew that his life was 

 precarious ; and although from consideration for the feel- 

 ings of those around him, he forbore from saying much 

 on the subject, by gentle allusions he sought to prepare 

 their minds for the event which he foresaw could not be 

 distant. Nor were these hints the less plain from being 

 sometimes playfully made. During that spring the Life of 

 Etty the j ainter was sent to his house amongst other books, 

 from the Reading Club ; but so similar were the details of 

 Etty's illnesses to the attack under which Mr Wilson was 

 labouring, that his daughter and niece privately agreed to 

 return the volumes. However, his interest in art made 

 him ask for the book. He read it, and, as was expected, 

 the same thing which had struck his family struck him- 

 self ; for, as he closed the work, with his quiet smile he 

 said, " Poor Etty ! his case seems to have been very like 

 my own ; asthma, rheumatic gout, and — a niece." 



But even although he had said nothing, the eye of 

 affection could not fail to mark various indications of his 

 own presentiment. Not only did he arrange his worldly 

 affairs, but he shewed more than usual anxiety to bring 

 to a completion any work he had undertaken. Above 

 all, there was a deepening earnestness in his allusions to 

 sacred things, and the Bible, which was laid on his pillow, 



