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came to the table at every meal, when called — and seemed not de- 

 ficient in appetite. The only sickness of any consequence he ex- 

 perienced during his seclusion was an attack of cholera morbus, in 

 the summer of 1828, from which he soon recovered, and seemed 

 to enjoy his wonted health, until the latter end of May, 1S29. At 

 this time, his friends began to notice that his appetite was failing. 

 It continued to decline more and more, until about the beginning of 

 July, when it seemed entirely to have disappeared. For some 

 weeks he had eaten very little ; but on the 2d of July, he declined 

 eating altogether— assigning as a reason, that when it was the will 

 of the Almighty that he should eat, he would be furnished with an 

 appetite. 



It is not correct as has been stated in the newspapers, that he 

 refrained from eating, in consequence of a vision, warning him 

 to do so, nor that he commenced his fast, in imitation of our Sav- 

 iour in the wilderness. It does not appear that he had set any def- 

 inite time for his fast, nor very distinctly assigned his motive for 

 fasting at all. Indeed, it is more than probable, that the great 

 motive in the first instance, was, that he felt no inclination to eat, 

 and that after all desire for food had left him, he became convinced 

 that there was more merit in abstinence than in eating. Towards 

 the close of his life, he told his sister that he had not experienced the 

 least hunger except on the second day of his fast. For the first six 

 weeks he went regularly to the well, in the morning, and washed 

 his head and face, and took a bowlful of water with him into the 

 house. With this he used occasionally to wash his mouth— he al- 

 so used it for drink. His parents think, that the quantity of water 

 he took in 24 hours, did not exceed, if it equalled, a pint. When 

 he had fasted about a week, his parents became alarmed, and sent 

 for medical aid. 



The physicians, fearing that death would speedily ensue if noth- 

 ing were done, advised his friends to insist on his taking food, and 

 if necessary, to make use of compulsory measures, to induce him 



force hfm to take nourishment, and about a table spoonful of water 

 gruel, was, in consequence, swallowed. But it was found in vain 

 to struggle with him, as neither fear nor entreaty would avail. 

 From that time until his dissolution, he was allowed to follow his 



went three days without taking even water ; but this was proba- 



