DECLINING YEARS (1873-1893) 287 



and in spite of all that skilled medical aid and de- 

 voted nursing could do, she never recovered from 

 the terrible shock to the system. For several weeks 

 she lay in a critical state, her life, as it were, hang- 

 ing in the balance, and it was not till April i8th that 

 she was released from her patiently endured suffer- 

 ings, when she quietly and peacefully passed away. 

 She was laid to rest in the little churchyard hard by 

 the home where she had spent so many happy years, 

 beloved by all who knew her. It may truly be re- 

 corded of her that she left "her kind deeds and 

 happy, gracious ways shining like a track on the 

 waters behind her." Acutely as my father felt his 

 loss, he bore up against the blow bravely, his natu- 

 rally hopeful, sanguine, and cheerful spirit standing 

 him in good stead in the heavy trial he then passed 

 through. 



Nothing could be greater than the kindness of 

 friends and neighbours at this sad time ; to none 

 was he more beholden for kind sympathy than to 

 his valued friend, Canon Wilton of Londesborough, 

 who, in preaching at Nunburnholme on the Sunday 

 following the funeral, made touching allusion to the 

 sad circumstances attending Mrs. Morris's death, 

 taking for his text the words of David in i Sam. 

 xx. 3, " There is but a step between me and death." 

 Never did my father feel the help of his devoted 

 daughter Laura of greater value than now, and he 

 always spoke of it in terms of the deepest affection, 

 satisfaction, and thankfulness. He did not lay aside 

 his work in any respect, but seemed to find comfort 



