MEMjOIR op colonel DAVID MILNE HOME 169 



career. Again travelling northwards, he took up his 

 residence at Caldra, near Duns, and at once resumed that 

 active interest in public affairs which he manifested till the 

 day, till the very minute, of his death, which took place with 

 appalling suddeness, at Eyemouth, on Tuesday, November 14th 

 1901, from the failure of the heart's action while hurrying 

 to catch a train, after having attended a meeting of the 

 Harbour Trust and Sea Wall Committee, of which he was 

 chairman. 



Swiftly, silently, unexpectedly, did the Angel of Death 

 tap him on the shoulder, and beckon him away to those regions 

 which are visible only to the eye of faith. As far as man 

 can judge, he lived habitually in readiness for the call, but 

 it may with confidence be stated that rarely has there been 

 a man whose loss to the community was so deeply felt. A 

 gallant soldier, a model husband and father, a devoted friend, 

 a Christian of high principle and upright life — he pursued 

 his consistent career of usefulness universally beloved, esteemed, 

 and respected. 



He was an Elder in the Established Church of Scotland, 

 and frequently sat in the General Assembly as representative 

 Elder of his Presbytery, and though he never talked much 

 about religion, those who knew him best were aware that 

 it was the pivot of his life. 



Unselfishness was the prominent feature of his character, 

 his leading idea being — how best to do things for other people. 

 The last days of his life were literally spent in ministering 

 to the wants of others, working for soldiers in Edinburgh, 

 and for fisher-folk at Eyemouth. A favourite maxim of his 

 was, " never put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day 

 for others : the opportunity may pass away." On the very 

 day which was to be his last he noticed a maid, who had 

 formerly been dismissed from his service, and walked the 

 whole length of the train to speak kindly and encouragingly 

 to her. 



It has been observed that since his departure people who 

 met him in former days seem to have been impressed by 

 him, and not to have forgotten him. 



To enumerate the various public offices which Colonel Milne 

 Home filled would be beyond the scope of this notice, but 



