light might not disturb him, I
opened a book, thinking he would sleep. He lay very quiet, and I
supposed him to be asleep, and was becoming interested in the volume
before me when he softly called my name. I stepped quickly to his
bedside, he took my hand saying, "sit down close to me Walter, I have
something to say to you." I took a seat near him, and after a few
moments' silence he said: "You may perhaps think I am nervous and
fanciful, when I tell you I feel certain I shall never recover from this
illness; the physician tells me I will soon be up again, but such will
not be the case." Observing that I was much startled, he said, "Do not
be alarmed Walter, but compose yourself and listen to me. My parents and
one sister live at a distance of four hundred miles from here. I have
deferred informing them of my illness, as my employer, who has much
confidence in the skill of my physician, thought it unwise to alarm them
needlessly, and I now fear that I have put it off too long, for I think
I shall not live to see them. I intend in the morning requesting my
employer to send a message for my father to hasten to me at once, but
I fear it is too late." Much alarmed, I enquired if he felt himself
growing worse, or if he wished me to summon his physician. He replied,
"I feel no worse, but from the first I have had the impression that I
should never recover; and should I not live to see any of my friends. I
have one or two requests to make of you, knowing that you will attend to
my wishes when I shall be no more." I became so much alarmed that I was
on the point of calling some of the family; but he arrested me saying:
"I am quite free from pain, and when I have finished my conversation
with you shall probably sleep." He continued, "I know my father will
hasten at once to me when apprised of my illness, but should I not live
till he arrives, tell him I have endeavored to follow the counsels he
gave me when I left home; for I know it will comfort him when I am gone
to know that I respected his wishes. Tell him, also, he will find what
money I have been able to save from my salary deposited in the Savings
Bank. Tell him to remember me to my mother and sister Mary, and could I
have been permitted to see them again it would have afforded me much
happiness, but that I died trusting in the merits of my Redeemer, and
hope to meet them all in Heaven, where parting will be no more." His
writing-desk, which was a very beautiful and expens