severe and trying affliction, I do not remember to have heard a
murmuring word escape his lips; so that I cannot doubt but his prayers
were heard, and the grace prayed for bestowed. In the evening the
hiccup increased, and all that night it was very severe, so that he
could not bear to be any way disturbed, nor could I possibly prevail
upon him to take his medicine, from two in the morning until ten
o'clock, when the physicians again attended and persuaded him to
comply. This was Sunday. About mid-day Dr. Warner sent some old hock,
with orders that he should take some in his drink, and now and then a
little plain. When the wine was brought in and put on the table, he
asked me what it was. I told him. He said, 'Yes, they are now come to
the last shift.'

"Mr. Frank Gilbert, a good man, and, I believe, a real
Christian, having come to town to preach--for he is a Methodist
minister--sent a note, kindly inquiring after him, and intimating,
if it would be agreeable to him, he would visit him in the morning.
He said, by all means, he should be very glad to see him. I said,
'My love, you know I have great faith in the prayers of God's
people; suppose you should beg an interest in them this afternoon?'
He answered, 'My dear, do you think they will forget me?' I said,
'I hope, my love, you are not ashamed to desire the prayers of the
people of God; it is not now a time to mind the ridicule of the
world.' He said, 'No, Bell, I care not a farthing for the whole
world, and you may make it my own request.'

"His disorder gained ground very fast that day, and I began to be
much alarmed; yet still I thought it would not end in death, but
though severe and dangerous, was sent in answer to my repeated,
earnest prayers to awaken in him a real concern about his eternal
interest, to set the world and its vanities in their true light, and
bring about that entire change of heart which our blessed Lord styles
the new birth, and without which, he says, we cannot enter the kingdom
of heaven.

"It was now become very difficult for him to speak; but by the
motion of his hands and eyes, which were continually lifted up when he
had the smallest respite, I could easily see his thoughts were fixed
on the importance of his situation; besides, many sentences and half
sentences broke from his lips at different times, which left me
without a doubt. 'Farewell,' said he, 'vain world; an idle world it
is, nothing but shadows, and we keep