THE LIFE AND DEATH OF MOSES 101 



day for a whole week, slowly sinking and growing 

 feebler, but his love for me was manifest to the last, 

 and I dare confess that I returned it with all my 

 heart. 



Is it wrong that I should requite such devotion 

 and fidelity with reciprocal emotion ? No. I should 

 not deserve the love of any creature if I were in- 

 different to the love of Moses. That affectionate 

 little creature had lived with me in the dismal 

 shadows of that primeval forest for so many long 

 days and dreary nights ; had romped and played 

 with me when far away from the pleasures of home, 

 and had been a constant friend alike through sun- 

 shine and storm. To say that I did not love him 

 would be to confess myself an ingrate unworthy of 

 my race. 



The last spark of life passed away in the night. 

 It was not attended by acute pain or struggling, 

 but, falling into a deep and quiet sleep, he woke no 

 more. 



Moses will live in history. He deserves to do so, 

 because he was the first of his race that ever spoke 

 a word of human speech ; because he was the first 

 that ever conversed in his own language with a 

 human being; and because he was the first that 

 ever signed his name to any document ; and Fame 

 will not deny him a niche in her temple among the 

 heroes who have led the races of the world. 



