EDUCATOR 129 



He had a friend to whom the spelling of ordinary Eng- 

 lish words was an inscrutable mystery, who happened to 

 dictate a letter to a typewriter for him, and he wrote in 

 reply February 20: "Thanks for your good long letter of 

 February 13. The neatness of your letter and the accuracy 

 of your spelling leads me to think that the use of the type- 

 writer is a means of grace to you. I am still housed here in 

 Amherst. * Afflictions sore long time I bore/ but rough 

 breathing seems to hang on worst of all. I have been hop- 

 ing against hope, to leave here next week, about the end of 

 March, but I am very much afraid that the doctor will put 

 me off another week. I think we will settle down for our 

 health at Fort Pierce. When we get comfortably settled, 

 I will let you know just where we are, and then I shall 

 expect frequent messages." 



The last letter written in Amherst, the day he left for Flo- 

 rida, shows that he knew that his case was serious, but it 

 has in it the ring of courage that never fails. He was not 

 of those who accept Longfellow's sentimental metaphor : 



And our hearts, though stout and brave, 

 Still, like muffled drums, are beating 

 Funeral marches to the grave. 



It was written to his amanuensis: "For all your hopes 

 and prayers in my behalf, accept my thanks. I need them 

 all. For verily I have been down into the depths and my 

 head is barely above the waves now. * Yes,' said the doctor, 

 'there is not an organ in your body performing its functions 

 properly, sir.' Hence you may know why I closed up my 

 note so hurriedly last week. The spirit indeed was willing 

 but the flesh was almighty weak. We expect this afternoon 

 to proceed to New York and take boat for Jacksonville. 



