220 SAMUEL FINLEY B REESE MORSE. 



stepped into bed herself, fell back, with a momen- 

 tary struggle, on her pillow ; her eyes were imme- 

 diately fixed, the paleness of death overspread her 

 countenance, and in five minutes more, without the 

 slightest motion, her mortal life terminated. 



" It happened that, just at this moment, I was 

 entering her chamber-door, with Charles in my 

 arms, to pay her my usual visit, and to pray with 

 her. The nurse met me affrighted, calling for help. 

 Your mother, the family, and neighbors, full of the 

 tenderest sympathy and kindness, and the doctor, 

 thronged the house in a few minutes ; everything 

 was done that could be done, to save her life. But 

 her appointed time had come, and no earthly skill 

 or power could stay the hand of death. It was the 

 Lord who gave her to you, the chiefest of all your 

 earthly blessings, and it is he that has taken her 

 away ; and may you be enabled, my son, from 

 the heart to say, 'Blessed be the name of the 

 Lord ! ' " 



The heart of Morse was well nigh broken. The 

 woman he had idolized had gone from him in a 

 moment. He wrote back to his father : " Oh, is it 

 possible ? is it possible ? Shall I never see my 

 dear wife again ? But I cannot trust myself to 

 write on the subject. I need your prayers, and 

 those of Christian friends, to God for support. I 

 fear I shall sink under it. 



" Oh, take good care of her dear children ! 

 "Your agonized son, 



" FINLEY." 



