56 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 



among the ITegro Baptists of E'orth Carolina 

 was fast approaching the end. 



A specialist in the medical field was hurried 

 to the scene, while two other physicians were at 

 his bedside, twice each day, and sometimes far 

 up into the night; every care and attention 

 which human hands could devise, was employed ; 

 prayers in the State meetings, in the churches, 

 and in the closets went uj) daily and hourly in 

 his behalf; for seven weeks he lingered, but 

 these petitions were unceasing. !N'ot once during 

 all these weeks and days of suffering was he 

 heard to utter a word of complaint. Although 

 under a strain, as was evident sometimes, each 

 visitor was met in his approach with a genial 

 smile and a kindly gTeeting. His usual reply to 

 the many inquiries, ''I am making out,'' or ^'I 

 am just waiting." 



Never before have we seen such deep anxiety 

 exhibited, and for such a long time. The scene 

 was often pathetic, to find members and friends 

 waiting in adjoining homes, with tearful eyes, 

 asking for one word of cheer from the sick room. 

 Augustus Shepard shared, as no other we have 

 ever known, the deepest sympathy and good 

 wishes of the world about him. The State Con- 



