354 IN MEMORIAM.— DR HARDY 



At the annual meeting in October 1896, by his own 

 express desire, the Rev. George Gunn, Stichill, was asso- 

 ciated with him as joint Secretary, as he felt he could 

 no longer perform his duties unaided. But even amid 

 growing physical infirmities his interest in the Club 

 and its affairs knew no abatement, and his mental powers 

 remained as alert and vigorous as ever. In the closing 

 days, when the shadow of the end was impending, 

 he continued calmly and cheerfully to do his appointed 

 work, and even planned additional work which it was 

 not given him to accomplish. One of his last acts was 

 to write a long letter to his esteemed coadjutor in the 

 Secretaryship, expressing his delight at the success of 

 the Club's meeting held on 28th September 1898 — two 

 days before — at Eccles, Hume, and Kelso, and suggesting 

 arrangements for the next annual business meeting at 

 Berwick. When that letter was written the busy pen 

 was laid down, never again to be lifted. After partaking 

 of tea with Mrs Hardy and an old and valued friend, 

 Mrs Wood, Galashiels, he went out to the garden, as 

 was his custom, to spend a short time with his much- 

 loved flowers before retiring for the night. There, in 

 a moment, and unseen of human eyes, he laid down the 

 burden of this mortal life, and passed into the presence 

 of Him whose works it had been his life-long delight 

 to study. He rests among his kindred at Coldingham, 

 under the shadow of the ancient Priory Church, 

 which will henceforth for all of us be invested with 

 fresh interest and a new sacredness. Few lives have 

 been lived more worthily, and few have attained more 

 nearly the higher ideal of success than his; although 

 to a generation which estimates success by the vulgar 

 standai'ds of noise and display or of material gain, it 

 may present few elements to attract regard. But 

 "Wisdom is justified of her children"; and no one ever 

 wooed her more ardently, or rested more fully content 



