got
breath from this first furious attack, he inquired with touching sadness,
"shall I not be able to lecture to-day?" When answered in the negative, he
distinctly demanded that the suspension should be only for that one day.
In the afternoon of Tuesday, he called out vehemently for his reader,
desired him to go on with Ritter's Palestine, with which he had been
occupied, and impatiently blamed the anxiety of his friends who had
dismissed his assistant too hastily. He then, according to his daily
custom, had another of his pupils read to him the newspaper. He followed
the reading with lively attention, making his remarks now of agreement and
now of dissent, till at length he fell asleep, and so ended the day's
work. Later in the afternoon, while racked with pain, it occurred to him
that his sister might think of foregoing sleep on his account, which he
begged her not to do. Wednesday he had the newspaper read to him, and made
his comments, as usual. Thursday night brought with it a convulsive
hiccough. Friday, his spirit was clear, peaceful and full of love. But
Friday night extinguished the last hopes of his friends. The pains he
endured were excruciating. With an indescribably affecting and deeply
tender voice, before which no eye remained tearless, he exclaimed, "Would
to God I could sleep." Saturday he was clamorous for the servant to bring
him his clothes, that he might dress and go about his work. His sister
came: "Think, dear August, what thou hast said to me when I have rebelled
against the directions of the physician, 'It comes from God, therefore
must we acquiesce in it.'" "That is true," answered quickly the softened
voice, "it all comes from God, and we must thank him for it." During the
day he asked to be taken into the study. The sweet sunlight, streaming on
his nearly blinded eyes, refreshed and gladdened him. After this, a bath
of wine and strengthening herbs was administered, which seemed to do him
good. Finding himself amongst his books again, he rose upon the cushions
which supported him, and, to the astonishment of all, began a lecture upon
the New Testament, and announced for the coming term a course of lectures
upon the Gospel of John. At half-past nine, having inquired the hour, he
fell asleep. When he awoke, it was Sunday. There came back a gush of
bodily strength, the last leaping of the light before it flickered in the
socket. Taking up the thread of his history where he had dropped it two
days b