34o 



LIFE IN MONTREAL. 



[Chap. VII. 



physician with him : the case was complicated by rheumatism, 

 and this brought on a slight facial paralysis, which, however, 

 did not last long. When the action of the heart became inter- 

 mittent, Dr. Campbell ordered him two teaspoonfuls of sherry, 

 which he sent him to be taken as a medicine like " any other 

 poison." When the glass was put into his hand, he held it 

 before him, and solemnly said, " Behold, we bend our proud 

 will to Thy decree," and then drank it. It acted wonderfully 

 at first, from his not being accustomed to it. He took it to 

 the last in milk, which he liked best. His chief suffering was 

 from the heart : this required that his head should not be raised. 

 His patience and thankfulness were a great support to his wife, 

 who had the comfort of a most efficient nurse, and the kindest 

 friends. She wrote afterwards: "I thank 'God for having 

 given me the strength which He has promised : it was truly, 

 6 As thy day is, so shall thy strength be.' I was on my feet the 

 whole day, and only perhaps an hour or two's sleep ; still I 

 never felt tired, and was able to look cheerful. He knew from 

 the beginning that he should not get better, and asked Dr. 

 Dawson and Mr. Redpath to see that his funeral was very quiet. 

 He was conscious to the last, and so joyful to go ; only looking 

 often pitifully at me. He had done with the world altogether : 

 only asked me how I managed, once. When I told him that 

 I had refunded to the parents half a quarter's fee, and dismissed 

 school, he said, ' You have done wisely, and if I should get 

 better, we will not teach school any more, but try and do some- 

 thing else.' That was my hardest time, when I had to teach 

 downstairs, and my all on earth lying upstairs." In another 

 letter she said, " From the beginning, he thought he should 

 not recover. He said, 6 Now don't grieve ; but say, " Content 

 I drop this clod of earth ; " and if you are very sad, say " Jesus 

 loves me, even me " [see p. 306]. Oh, if you knew what sweet 

 things the Lord Jesus says to me. He has pardoned me.' He 

 was conscious all the time, except when he was delirious. He 

 often told me to lie down by him — that he could speak better. 

 On Wednesday morning (May 23), when the doctor came, he 

 spoke to me about his being near the end. The dear one heard 



