332 MEMOIR OF DR. HARVEY. 



they take with them from England a church tent, a large white 

 tent, decently and orderly fitted up and large enough to hold a 

 good congregation, and this would be set up at once in the 

 midst of their "kraal" and used for their morning and evening 

 devotions and for no other purpose. Well, as he spoke, so 

 simply telling us the details, and perhaps unconscious of the 

 picture he was drawing, the " Tabernacle of Witness " set up in 

 the wilderness seemed to rise before me, and to suggest so many 

 thoughts that my eyes foolishly filled as the mind ran on from 

 thought to thought, from the small present to the possibly 

 great future, and back to the dreary past. It seemed as if one 

 of those delicious soft showers that waken up vegetation in 

 spring were now falling from heaven on that " barren and dry 

 land, where no water is," and that this was like the beginning of 

 the fulfilment of the promise, that the wilderness should rejoice 

 and blossom as the rose, &c. &c. You will see at once the 

 crowd of images that occur, and I do hope and trust this new 

 mission may go forth with the blessing of Grod, " conquering and 

 to conquer." 



To . 



Trinity College, Dublin, February 21st, 1860. 



" Truth is a fixed star." G. G himself, of whom I often 



think, is now, I trust, a "fixed star," to shine for ever and ever. 

 Do you ever in any degree realise what I suppose to be the 

 " communion of saints ?" — namely, when you are doing any- 

 thing, the thought of one that is gone comes across your mind, 

 with a feeling of sympathy, as if the disembodied spirit were 

 holding present communion with yours, putting thoughts into 

 your mind, and helping you along over your little difficulties. 

 Such thoughts often come to me, and especially when my mind 

 is strongly engaged on any subject. 



March 16th. 

 I have just got yours telling of our friend's removal, but 

 before this reaches you you will have received tidings of 

 another bereavement which will touch you more closely. I had 

 not expected it quite so soon, but it is only what we must all 

 have looked to hear sooner or later ; and now that it is over, all 

 we can say is that he is in hands that are equally stretched 



