labor, now that it is so nearly done; for though it
has not been a work that pleased my taste, or quite satisfied my
feelings, I have never underrated its importance. Then after that come
all the plans we have formed. Oh, I feel as though only just beginning
to be prepared for usefulness."

"It is the opinion of most of the mission," I remarked, "that you will
not recover." "I know it is," he replied; "and I suppose they think me
an old man, and imagine that it is nothing for one like me to resign a
life so full of trials. But I am not old--at least in that sense--you
know I am not. Oh! no man ever left this world with more inviting
prospects, with brighter hopes or warmer feelings--warmer feelings"--he
repeated, and burst into tears. His face was perfectly placid, even
while the tears broke away from the closed lids, and rolled, one after
another, down to the pillow. There was no trace of agitation or pain in
his manner of weeping, but it was evidently the result of acute
sensibilities, combined with great physical weakness. To some
suggestions which I ventured to make, he replied, "It is not that--I
know all that, and feel it in my inmost heart. Lying here on my bed,
when I could not talk, I have had such views of the loving condescension
of Christ, and the glories of heaven, as I believe are seldom granted to
mortal man. It is not because I shrink from death, that I wish to live;
neither is it because the ties that bind me here though some of them
are very sweet, bear any comparison with the drawings I at times feel
towards heaven; but a few years would not be missed from my eternity of
bliss, and I can well afford to spare them, both for your sake and for
the sake of the poor Burmans. I am not tired of my work, neither am I
tired of the world; yet when Christ calls me home. I shall go with the
gladness of a boy bounding away from his school. Perhaps I feel
something like the young bride, when she contemplates resigning the
pleasant associations of her childhood, for a yet dearer home--though
only a very little like her--for _there is no doubt resting on my
future_." "Then death would not take you by surprise," I remarked, "if
it should come even before you could get on board ship." "Oh, no," he
said, "death will never take me by surprise--do not be afraid of that--I
feel _so strong in Christ_. He has not led me so tenderly thus far, to
forsake me at the very gate of heaven. No, no; I am willing to live a
few years l