saw
it. I came near coming to your room at half-past ten, but concluded
not to do so.' Another time to-day he said: 'If God enables me to
bear this I hope I shall be able to do my allotted work.'"

He bore it well, but it added very much to a burden already too
heavy. For some weeks afterwards he now and then moaned and wept for
his brother, and this happened occasionally till summer came. Those
who attended Father Hecker could not but be convinced, from what they
saw and heard, that God allowed George to visit his brother more than
once after his death, and these supernatural interviews were
productive of mingled consolation of soul and pain of body to the
survivor. George Hecker was worthy of his brother's love. He was a
noble character, full of that sort of religion nowadays most needed.
His piety flourished in the withering atmosphere of wealth and in the
turmoil of commercial life. Industry, thrift, enterprise, quick
perception of opportunities, determination, a keen sense of his
rights and a bold hand to defend them, manly frankness, were
conspicuous traits in him and made him a rich merchant. But all these
qualities served him as well for high spiritual ends. He was
essentially and dominantly a spiritual man, fond of prayer, regular
in all religious duties. He was as honest as the day, and all for
conscience' sake and the love of God. His understanding was wide and
clear, his heart tender, simple, and courageous. He loved his wife
and children, he loved his brother Isaac, with an absorbing
devotedness, and these loves were blended and mingled into one with
the love of God. His charities are known to the reader, but they
should be understood as the result not merely of affection for his
brother, or even of faith in his apostolate, but also from his own
perception of the intrinsic worth of the undertakings themselves. We
know not what quality could be added to George Hecker to make him a
model Christian of our day.

His death had a serious effect on Father Hecker's state of body and
mind. But from the previous autumn and during the winter following he
had failed rapidly. In fact, he had requested and received the last
Sacraments from Father Hewit on September 15, 1887; but this was on
account of an alarming irregularity of the heart's action, which was
but temporary. He had no long distance to drop at any time to get to
the bottom, and it became evident in the summer of 1888 that the end
was not far off. He cou