298 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. VII. 



of the state of things : " Appalling yet comfortable news of 

 George's amputation." 



A letter to him from Dr. Cairns remains as a photograph of 

 those days of trouble : 



To J. M'G. RUSSELL, ESQ. 



"JanuanjYI, 1843. 



" MY VERY DEAR FRIEND, You are no doubt discomposed, as 

 I myself have been for some days, by the operation performed 

 on Dr. Wilson. As I happen to have been thinking of him 

 perforce for some time with peculiar interest, you will, I have 

 no doubt, welcome every particular. Everything, by the 

 special blessing of God, has as yet gone admirably ; so much 

 strength of mind as to resolve to keep all to himself till the 

 crisis ; so much coolness and presence of mind as to impose on 

 all who saw him ; so great firmness during the operation and 

 composure after it ; such a comfortable wearing off' of the first 

 rude shock produced in the family, without detriment to the 

 health and spirits of any ; and so favourable a progress hither 

 to of the wounded limb, all certainly are most striking and 

 consolatory ; and whether we suppose any supernatural 1 grace 

 or not, call equally for gratitude to Him whose benignant pro- 

 vidence is the only present help in trouble. After an absence 

 of three days, I had the happiness of seeing them all to-day in 

 circumstances of peace and hope. I was also admitted for a 

 few minutes to the room of the doctor, and exchanged a few 

 words, and engaged for a very short time in prayer. He is, of 

 course, weakened ; but the expression of countenance, and look 

 of self- oblivion, which I never saw him lose in the worst days, 

 are the same. . . . All danger is now, humanly speaking, over, 

 and I trust our prayers and anxieties, which are already passing 

 into thanksgiving, may soon be for nothing but grace to im- 

 prove past affliction and deliverance." 



It was on this visit that John Cairns, the ministering angel 

 of that sick-chamber, was able to come forth with an announce - 



1 Supernatural seems here used by the writer in a sense akin to preternatural or 

 miraculous. 



