HIS SUDDEN DEATH. 317 



the afternoon, and on Wednesday, he received various 

 friends who came in to see him, and evinced much 

 vivacity in conversation. An interview with Rev. 

 Dr. Fitch he especially enjoyed. " I showed him," 

 he said, " that anecdote of President Lincoln which 

 I pasted into my Journal last night, and he was 

 affected to tears, and that led to pleasant conversation 

 on religious subjects ; we agree entirely." On Wed- 

 nesday evening, a respected neighbor, Mr. Coit, spent 

 an hour with him. The conversation was animated, 

 relating chiefly to what both had seen at different 

 times in Europe. Early on Thursday morning, he 

 awoke after a sound sleep. He was disposed to con- 

 versation, and expressed to Mrs. Silliman his sense 

 of the great blessings he had received in life. He 

 then prayed audibly for the country, it was the 

 day of National Thanksgiving appointed by the Pres- 

 ident, for his family, and especially for his absent 

 son. He repeated the Lord's Prayer, and then the 

 hymns, beginning 



" Lord in the morning thou shalt hear," 

 " Trembling before thine awful throne." 



He seemed much refreshed by sleep, and remarked 

 that his voice was so clear that he could have more 

 extended services in family worship that morning than 

 had been possible of late, and that he could perhaps 

 go out to church. He then expressed to his nearest 

 friend the gratitude and affection he felt for her ; and 

 just as the words had dropped from his lips, he drew 

 a long breath, it was his last. Without a struggle, 

 in a moment, his noble, gentle spirit passed from its 

 earthly tenement. Such a death well deserved to 



