llf ) 



except for a few brief excursions to the school, to dis- 

 tribute prizes and certificates, or to the Poll at Morden, 

 he did not leave the Rectory grounds, and his walking 

 was practically confined to a few steps across the flower- 

 garden on his way to his c Den '. But his hand and eye 

 were as keen as ever, and he was constantly at work at 

 his table in the c Den *, sorting and describing species 

 of spiders from many parts of the world, and setting 

 such insects as were sent to him or imprudently visited 

 his window, and he continued, as has been recorded, to 

 publish papers on spiders and other iftgect subjects 

 until 1914. In August 1910 a very heavy blow fell 

 upon him and upon all of us in my mother's death after a 

 year of painful illness; but he showed great pleasure 

 when in IyI^ all his five sons were gathered round him. 

 In January 1913 all five sons were again present at the 

 annual Carol Party for the last time, as it proved, for 

 soon afterwards my brother Owen returned to mission- 

 work in Japan. The years 1914 and 1^15 brought 

 a variety of minor troubles which told on my father 

 a good deal, and during 1916 he began to fail more 

 rapidly, and at last resigned the attempt to keep up with 

 the various kinds of business which he had done with 

 such ease during most of his life. On October 7 he 

 visited his c Den' for the last time, and on the i^th 

 made the last entry in his diary c Rainfall f hun- 

 dredths '. (He had kept a regular record of rainfall for 



