1859. ENTERS INTO EEST. 489 



Cairns returned for a few minutes : to the inquiry made once 

 again, " Is all peace ?" came the same reply " Yes," with a smile. 

 This question elicited the only smiles that had been seen in 

 those days of weakness. " Shall I pray with you ?" " Yes, but 

 short," evidently feeling the moments numbered. His uncle 

 coming in, they shook hands and parted, he saying, " Don't vex 

 yourself about me ; you've been very kind to me." His mother 

 then came and kissed his hand ; he in reply (knowing she could 

 not hear his voice) raised his right arm, pointing significantly 

 heavenwards. Each one was calm outwardly, the utmost self- 

 control being exerted, that he might not be distressed by witness- 

 ing emotion on their part. A love of quiet, and avoidance of 

 anything like bustle were ever strongly characteristic of him, 

 and now this was borne in mind. He was therefore left alone 

 with his sister, the light being lowered as much as possible : she 

 bathed once more his face and hands ; it was evidently soothing, 

 and he said, " How can I ever thank you for all your care and 

 kindness ?" For the first time she then expressed her conscious- 

 ness of his state, by saying, " You're going home, dear." With 

 distinctness he uttered the words, " I've been an unworthy 

 servant of a worthy and gracious Master," then the voice broke, 

 and only one word more could be distinguished, " sin." Two 

 portions of Scripture were repeated with the hope of pointing 

 from sin to the sin-Bearer, " If any man sin, we have an advocate 

 with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." " Ye are complete 

 in Him." A very marked change appearing in his countenance, 

 a bell at hand was rung, which brought his mother and John 

 Cairns again beside him. " He was breathing rapidly and with 

 difficulty, and his end was near. 1 I shortly prayed again, and a 

 slight elevation of the eyes showed that he recognised me. Your 

 mother, Jessie, and I watched him intently as the breathing 

 became more laborious and slow, and the eyes nearly closed. 

 At length a slight convulsive effort announced almost the last 

 struggle ; but his breathing was, after a pause, resumed, and the 

 actual falling asleep was so gentle that it could not be distin- 

 guished. His features retained the most peaceful expression," 



1 We quote from a letter written by Dr. Cairns, an hour later, to the absent sister 

 Jeanie. 



