LAST COMMUNION. 345 



was often studied during the sleepless watches of the 

 night. 



His journey to Inverness at the close of 1855, and his 

 visit to London at the beginning of 1 856, did not so much 

 indicate any real convalescence as they shewed how readily 

 his active spirit forgot the frailties of the frame. He was 

 an invalid, "feeble and sore broken;" and it was chiefly 

 his long- confirmed habit of alacrity in the service of others 

 which carried him through the large amount of work 

 achieved in the last eighteen months of his assiduous and 

 benevolent career. 



A month before his death he wrote as follows : — " Did 



M mention poor A. H 's death from bilious fever ? 



It is very striking so soon after her brother's. How few 

 remain now of my own generation ! — of the preceding, 

 none that I know of. May those in the fore-front of the 

 battle now make peace upon the sure foundation !" 



The close of April brought round the communion sea- 

 son in Edinburgh, and he shewed great anxiety to join 

 his brethren in commemorating the Saviour's dying love, 

 as well as to officiate once more as an elder. His desire 

 was granted, but at the cost of much suffering. So dis- 

 tressing was his breathlessness that his friends feared he 

 would not be able to go through the services of' the day ; 

 and when he returned to his home he quitted it no more, 

 till he exchanged it for the Father's house. 



