386 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. IX. 



one taking rest ; but the lively, playful, emotional manner of a 

 man thoroughly refreshed and at ease. 



" The life that was in him seemed to triumph over all bodily 

 infirmities ; it gushed out in kindly thoughts and words, and 

 happy turns of expression, which enlivened all around him. 

 There were those present during his visit who had endured re- 

 cent and severe affliction, yet they never found anything dis- 

 cordant in his mirth ; it was so genial, so tender of the infirmity 

 of others ; so considerate and forbearing towards all mankind. 

 And this life which was in him manifested itself not only to 

 those who could appreciate it fully, and who could admire the 

 aptitude of his illustrations, and the quaint humour of his re- 

 torts ; but it was poured out freely and generously on others, 

 who must have been less sensible of its value ; on young per- 

 sons and children ; nay, even on domestic animals, who came 

 in for a share of his friendly talk, and looked as if they under- 

 stood it." 



To those unstrung by broken health and the depression 

 almost invariably resulting from it, he was so often held up as 

 an evidence of how much of life's best blessings might yet re- 

 main for all who had power to lay hold of them, that it was 

 sometimes laughingly suggested to him that his peculiar " mis- 

 sion" in this world was to comfort invalids. But not only 

 negatively did he effect this ; his sympathy with sufferers was 

 such as to make any sacrifice for them a pleasure ; and no 

 consolatory letters or sickbed visits were ever more welcome 

 than his. 



Looking at this phase of his life, we cannot but be struck 

 with the gratitude which each attack of illness brings out more 

 and more fully. His nature having once been brought into 

 harmony with God's, he is able, with heaven-taught eye, to see 

 how immeasurably greater is the spiritual gain than the tem- 

 poral loss. His medical knowledge made him fully aware that, 

 step by step, he was steadily approaching the dark valley ; yet 

 it never seemed to lessen his interest in earthly things, or cur- 

 tail the plans for work in every department, for which a long 

 lifetime could scarcely have sufficed. The only deception lie 

 ever practised was that of concealing from those whose affec- 



