ep, from which she was awakened at midnight by Mrs.
McElroy, who said,--

"A great change has come over your husband. I think he is going to get
well. He wants to see you and the boys."

Hurrying to her husband's side, she found him sitting up in bed as
composedly as if no trouble had ever disturbed the serenity of his
mind, looking much as he did in their bridal hour. He had called for a
bowl of water and a towel, and was calmly washing himself. Bestowing
on her a loving look as she entered, he asked,--

"Mary, dear, has the missionary come?"

"Yes," she replied.

"Can I see him now?"

Mrs. McElroy took out her watch, and said, pleasantly,--

"Are you particular about seeing him now? I suppose you are not aware
how late it is."

"Yes," he answered, "it is twelve o'clock;" and his eye shone with a
strange intelligence. "I should have sent for him a year ago, had not
my heart been so proud and bitter. But I know _him_. He'll come now,
if it is late."

There was something unearthly in his manner, and Mrs. McElroy said,
rising,--

"It shall be as you request."

As Mr. Payson entered, the sick man extended his hand, saying,--

"I'm almost through, my friend. I've had some sore trials in
life,--not so much on my own account as because of those who were too
dear to me. We were cruelly wronged, and I have not been quite right
here,"--placing his hand upon his forehead,--"and what has made it
worse, I have been all wrong here,"--laying his hand upon his heart.
"I have doubted everybody, and distrusted my God. I have been hard and
scornful, and hated my fellows; but it is different with me now. I
have heard that voice speaking to me, that you told us of in the
little cabin. He has said unto me, even me, 'Come,' and he has given
me 'rest.' I have had a long, long struggle, but the conflict is over.
Ah, He is so different from human creditors! I have been a poor
debtor, chased, hunted, oppressed, goaded almost to insanity, and none
took pity on me, because I owed them a few paltry dollars, which I had
the heart to pay, but, through the robberies of another, and their
oppressions, could not. But what a debt I owed my Savior! Yet, without
a word of reproach, he has forgiven me all!"

This was spoken with a wondrous energy and clearness of voice; but a
deathly paleness began to overspread his face; partial delirium
supervened, not raging, as before, but his features lighted up the
while with a smile of heavenly beau