The Life of Jean Henri Fabre 



heard the sacred words that were familiar 

 to him — In manus tuus f Domine — his lips 

 moved as though to pronounce the Amen of 

 supreme acceptance, while his gaze, which 

 was beginning to grow dim, settled upon the 

 Sister's crucifix." 



It was the nth October 1915, at six 

 o'clock of the evening, that the great scientist 

 so gently surrendered his soul to God. 



The obsequies, celebrated on the 1 6th ' 

 October, " were simple and affecting, as he 

 would have liked them to be. For a few 

 moments before leaving the church, the 

 old naturalist's fine face was again exposed. 

 It reflected an immense serenity. On his 

 peaceful features one divined the satisfaction 

 of the man who is departing with his work 

 accomplished. In his parchment-like hands 

 he clasped a wooden crucifix with ivory tips. 

 Beside his head was a wreath of laurestinus. 

 Beside one arm was his great black felt hat." 



The service was celebrated by the Arch- 

 priest of Orange, in the little church; and 

 then the harsh, rocky soil received the body 

 of him who had so often stooped over it. 



This " life of J. H. Fabre told by him- 

 self " would not be complete if we did not 

 give here the text of the epitaph which he 

 himself had composed beforehand. It is 



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