tanding?' He raised his eyes and replied, most
impressively, '_Oh, yes_.' He said with delight, 'Mother, O think that
Joseph is now by the river of the water of life.' He said also to me,
'Mother, you will not weep for me?' I replied, 'If I do joy will mingle
with my tears.' He continued, 'I shall be nearer to you in Heaven than
in India' (alluding to his purpose, if his life should be spared, to be
a missionary in India). I asked him what message I should send to his
Uncle Scudder. He said, 'Tell him I think my heart was in the right
place when his letter reached me, or I know not what I should have
done.' Two friends came in. De Witt said, 'I thought I should have spent
part of this day around the throne in heaven.' And one (a pious young
college companion) said to the other, 'If this be dying, I envy him.'
After service in the afternoon, Rev. Mr. Carpenter came in with two of
his elders, and three other Christian friends were present. Singing was
proposed; De Witt was delighted with the thought of it, and selected the
hymns. '_Come, thou fount of every blessing_,' was sung first. My child
could not join with his voice, but stretched out his arm, and with his
arm, having the forefinger extended, beat the time. It was a touching,
solemn scene; the singing filled the room, and seemed to go up to
Heaven. After we had ended the second hymn, '_Rise, my soul, and stretch
thy wings_,' he exclaimed, 'I thought I was almost in heaven.' On
Sabbath night, about ten o'clock, he inquired of a friend, 'whether she
did not think he would soon die?' I went to him and asked him if he felt
any change that induced him to ask the question. He replied, 'Everything
seems to fail.' I then talked to him about the Savior being with him
when he passed through the dark valley, and added, 'Dear son, I will
give you up to the Lord.' Directly he said, 'I am now ready any moment
to say, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' He afterward repeated 'Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Of whom
shall I be afraid? It is better to die than live.' A little before six
o'clock he looked intensely upon me. I asked what he wished to give
me?--his farewell kiss, which he repeated several times. He then again
gave me an intense look. I said, 'My son, God will take care.' He
replied, 'I know he will.' He shook hands with two of his youthful
companions, and sent a message to the brother of one of them, expressive
of his solicitude for his