454 DAVID LIVINGSTONE. [chap. xxn. 



it ; a little path showed that it had visitors. This is the 

 sort of grave I should prefer : to be in the still, still 

 forest, and no hand ever disturb my bones. The graves 

 at home always seemed to me to be miserable, especially 

 those in the cold damp clay, and without elbow-room ; 

 but I have nothing to do but wait till He who is over all 

 decides where I have to lay me down and die. Poor Mary 

 lies on Shupanga brae, ' and beeks foment the sun.' ,: 



" He who is over all " decreed that while his heart 

 should lie in the leafy forest, in such a spot as he loved, 

 his bones should repose in a great Christian temple, 

 where many, day by day, as they read his name, would 

 recall his noble Christian life, and feel how like he was to 

 Him of whom it is written : — " The Spirit of the Lord 

 God is upon me ; because the Lord hath anointed me to 

 preach good tidings to the meek : he hath sent me to 

 bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the 

 captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are 

 bound ; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and 

 the day of vengeance of our God ; to comfort all that 

 mourn ; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give 

 unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, 

 the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness ; that 

 they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting 

 of the Lord, that he might be glorified." 



" Droop half-mast colours, bow, bareheaded crowds 

 As this plain coffin o'er the side is slung, 

 To pass by woods of masts and ratlined shrouds, 

 As erst by Afric's trunks, liana-hung. 



'Tis the last mile of many thousands trod 

 With failing strength but never failing will, 



By the worn frame, now at its rest with God, 

 That never rested from its fight with ill. 



Or if the ache of travel and of toil 



Would sometimes wring a short, sharp cry of pain 

 From agony of fever, blain and boil, 



'Twas but to crush it down and on again ! 



