came over his mind, during the last few days
of his life.

I was summoned from my pillow at midnight to stand by his death-bed.
His death was calm and full of hope; but, to the last, it was to him
a matter of regret, that he had neglected, through life, those things
which afforded him any hope in death. Among his last words to me, he
warned me against setting my heart upon riches, in a way that would
prove a snare to any soul. "Riches," said he, "are a great blessing when
rightly used, but ought not to be the chief aim and object of life."
Before the morning dawned, his spirit passed away, and it was my hand
that closed his eyes in the dreamless sleep of death. The next day I
called, in company with my mother, and entered the darkened room where
lay his lifeless remains, now habited for the grave. I gazed long and
silently upon those features now stamped with the seal of death. Reader,
if there lives one against whom you cherish angry and bitter feelings,
pause a moment and consider what your feelings would be if called to
stand by their coffin; for, be assured, your anger will then give place
to sorrow that you ever indulged anger toward the poor fellow-mortal now
extended before you in the slumber of death. I attended the funeral of
Mr. Judson, and saw his body consigned to the grave. He sleeps in the
village churchyard at Elmwood, and a marble slab marks his resting-place.
When, after the funeral, his will was read, the large amount of the
property left was a matter of wonder to many. In his will he gave largely
to several benevolent and religious institutions, and to me he left the
sum of one thousand dollars. I could see no reason why he should have
done this, but as his will was drawn up in legal form and properly
attested I thought it right I should accept of the generous gift; and,
indeed, it was but a small sum out of the large property left by Mr.
Judson. Besides his liberal gift to me, he also gave largely to different
benevolent and religious causes. Half the remainder of his large property
was to go to his surviving widow, and the remainder was to be equally
divided between the two sons. Before his death it was settled that
Reuben, the youngest son, was to remain on the home place to care for his
mother in her old age, while the eldest was to return to their former
business; and thus Mrs. Judson's declining years were rendered happy and
contented through the care and love of her favorite son. And so Rose an