He playfully says: "Even
'the young romance writer' had made a little book, (Scripture
questions,) and she manages to conduct a Bible class, and native female
prayer-meetings, so that I hope she will yet come to some good."

But a letter written to Miss Anable, Philadelphia, in the spring of
1849, is in a different strain: "A dark cloud is gathering round me. A
crushing weight is upon me. I cannot resist the dreadful conviction
that dear Emily is in a settled and rapid decline." After speaking of
the many means he had unsuccessfully employed for her restoration, he
says "The symptoms are such that I have scarcely any hope left. * * * If
a change to any place promised the least relief, I would go anywhere.
But we are here in the healthiest part of India, in the dry, warm
season, and she suffers so much at sea that a voyage could hardly be
recommended for itself. My only hope is, the doctor declares her lungs
are not seriously affected. * * * When at Tavoy, she made up her mind
that she must die soon, and that is now her prevailing expectation; but
she contemplates the event with composure and resignation. * * * Though
she feels that in her circumstances, prolonged life is exceedingly
desirable, she is quite willing to leave all at the Savior's call.
Praise be to God for his love to her." Some days later he adds: "Emily
is better. * * * But though the deadly-pressure is removed from my
heart, I do not venture to indulge any sanguine hopes after what I have
seen. * * * Do remember us in your prayers."

The doctor's predictions proved correct; Mrs. Judson partially recovered
from this attack, although in August her husband writes: "Emily's health
is very delicate--her hold on life very precarious."

Alas! his own hold on life was more precarious still. In the following
spring, the heart that had beat for her so fondly and truly was
consigned to its "unquiet sepulchre;" "the blue waves which visit every
coast" his only and "fitting monument;" while the object of his tender
solicitude was compelled to endure four months the agony of suspense as
to _his_ fate, terminated by the sad certainty of his death.[12]

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Judson expressed a strong desire to
remain in Burmah and devote herself to the cause which was so dear to
her husband's and her own heart. But her health, always delicate, was so
unfavorably affected by that climate that her physicians were of opinion
another rainy season would te