314 MEMOIR OF DR. HARVEY. 



Americana but I hardly look to touching it before the long days 

 come round." After particular mention of some relatives he thus 

 ends : " I find most of my other friends as I left them — the 

 prosperous still prospering — the unfortunate still afflicted." 



A tone of sadness pervades the letter, for the shadow of his 

 sister's illness hung heavily over him. Her death took place 

 about six months after, to which reference is made in the follow- 

 ing letter: — 



Trinity College, Dublin, 4th July, 1857. 



My dear Mrs. Alison, 



You will see by the edge of my paper that I have had 

 since my return home to submit to a separation which is the 

 most trying that could befal me — the death of my dear and 

 only sister, with whom I have lived since I was a boy, and with 

 whom was bound up much of my enjoyment, and the strongest 

 remaining tie that bound me to home. She entered into all 

 my pursuits with as much interest as if they were her own, and 

 I naturally feel a blank which can never be filled up, and in 

 many ways begin to find myself an old man whose ties are 

 loosened, and who has nothing to do but to continue his course 

 to the end, hoping for what shall be after the end, but not 

 looking for much in the passage towards it, or greatly desiring 

 a protracted perio I. 



On my return 1 found my sister apparently in good health, 

 but it soon after failed. She bore all her suffering most 

 patiently and meekly, and from the first resigned herself to her 

 Master's will without a murmur. She was beloved by all who 

 knew her, even by the strangers who came to her house, or who 

 met her casually. All this we can look back to, and then look 

 forward to that future reunion after a short interval, " where 

 there shall be no more sea," no more separation or tears. I 

 was very glad to receive your letter this morning, and to hear 

 of your safe arrival and pleasant reception among your friends 

 after so long an absence. . . . 



I do not wonder at your keen enjoyment of English greenery, 

 after the arid country where you have been resident. Even I, 

 from the " green isle " itself, am always struck with the 

 superior beauty of English verdure, chiefly, perhaps, because 

 the cultivation is so much better than with us, and that 



