ad been so stormy, yea, so full of toil and care, would seek in
advanced age the rest and quiet so much desired at that stage of life.
But it was not so with Brother Grimes. He was willing to begin another
lifetime work, and with all the freshness of desire and energy of
young manhood.

It was now the latter part of the winter of 1873. A revival had been
for a long time, and was still, in progress. Converts were coming into
the church rapidly. The heart of the pastor was never fuller of love
than during the revival. He seemed to be in agony for sinners to be
saved. He impatiently paced the aisles, and held private and personal
interviews with the impenitent. He disliked to leave the church at the
close of the services. He remained often in the vestibule, watching
for an opportunity to say a word for the Saviour. Brother C. G. Swan,
who preached for him once, said: "I never beheld a more heavenly face;
it seemed as if his soul were ripe for heaven."

Those who saw him in the pulpit the last Sabbath he spent on
earth--March 9, 1874--will not soon forget the earnestness and
impressiveness of his manner. On Wednesday, March 12th, he left the
scene of his labors to discharge a duty nearest to his heart. He took
$100 from his poor church, as a gift to the _Home Mission Society_,
that was to be used in the _Freedman's Fund_.

On Friday evening, March 14th, he reached home just in time to breathe
his last in the arms of his faithful, though anxious wife. Thus he
fell asleep in the path of duty, in the midst of a mighty work.

The news of his death spread rapidly, and cast a shadow of grief over
the entire community. The people mourned him.

The morning papers gave full account and notice of his death. The
following is one of the many notices that were given:

"DEATH OF AN ESTEEMED CLERGYMAN.

"The Rev. L. A. Grimes, the well-known and universally esteemed
colored clergyman, died very suddenly last evening, at his
residence on Everett Avenue, East Somerville. He had just
returned from New York, where he had been to attend the meeting
of the _Baptist Board of Home Missions_, of which he was a
member. He had walked to his home from the cars, and died within
fifteen minutes after his arrival. The physicians pronounce it a
case of apoplexy. Mr. Grimes was pastor of the Twelfth Baptist
Church, on Phillips Street, in this city. During the twenty-six
years of his ministry i