hearts ache; but I hope our heavenly Father will help you to bear
it. Your dear papa is very, very ill indeed; so much so that the
best judges fear that he will never be any better. He began to fail
about five months ago, and has declined so gradually that we were
not fully aware of his danger until lately; but within a few weeks
those who love him have become very much alarmed.

In January we went down to Mergui by the steamer, and when we
returned, thought he was a little better, but he soon failed again.
We spent a month at Amherst, but he received little if any benefit.
Next, the doctors pronounced our house (the one you used to live
in) unhealthy, and we moved to another. But all was of no use. Your
dear papa continued to fail, till suddenly, one evening, his
muscular strength gave way and he was prostrated on the bed, unable
to help himself. This occurred about two weeks ago. The doctor now
became alarmed, and said the only hope for him was in a long
voyage. It was very hard to think of such a thing in his reduced
state, particularly as I could not go with him; but after we had
wept and prayed over it one day and night, we concluded that it was
our duty to use the only means which God had left us, however
painful.

We immediately engaged his passage on board a French barque, bound
for the Isle of Bourbon; but before it sailed he had become so very
low that no one thought it right for him to go alone. They
therefore called a meeting of the mission and appointed Mr. Ranney.
It was a great relief to me, for he is a very kind man, and loves
your dear papa very much; and he will do everything that can be
done for his comfort. The officers of the vessel too, seemed
greatly interested for him, as did every one else. He was carried
on board a week ago yesterday, in a litter, and placed on a nice
easy cot made purposely for him. I stayed with him all day, and at
dark came home to stay with the children.

The next day found that the vessel had only dropped down a little
distance, and so I took a boat and followed. I expected this would
certainly be the last day with him, but it was not. On Friday I
went again, and though he did not appear as well as on the previous
days, I was forced to take, as I then supposed, a final leave of
him. But