eath of his favourite sister, of whose illness he had not even
heard, but it was no shock to him, for he felt far more sure of meeting
her again than if she had been left on earth.

The summer weather, to the surprise of all, brought back a slight revival
of strength, and some of his friends began to hope he might yet recover,
but he knew his own state too well, and told them he was as assuredly a
dead man as if he had been shot through the heart; still he was resolved
to profit by this partial restoration to return to Northampton, chiefly
because the rumour had reached him that the Bostonians had intended to
give him such a funeral as should testify their great esteem; and being
disappointed in this, they intended to assemble and escort him publicly,
while still alive, out of their city, but the bare idea naturally made
him so unhappy that they were forced to give it up.

Five days were spent in the journey, and again the Edwardses
reverentially opened their doors to a guest so near heaven. For some
time he rode out two or three miles daily, and sat with the family,
writing or conversing cheerfully when not engaged in prayer. His brother
John came from Crossweeksung and cheered him with a good account of his
Indians; and hearing of the great need of another school, he wrote to the
friends who had shown themselves so warmly interested in him at Boston,
and was gratified by their reply, with a subscription of 200_l._ for the
purpose, and of 75_l._ for the mission to the Six Nations. His answers
were written with his own hand; but he had become so much weaker that he
felt this his last task. He had been one who, in his short life, had
sown in tears to reap in joy.

He was sinking fast as the autumn cold came on, often talking tenderly to
the little ones of the house, but suffering terribly at times, and
sighing, "Why is His chariot so long coming?" then blaming himself for
over-haste to be released.

He had a smile for Jerusha as she came into his room on Sunday morning.
"Are you willing to part with me? I am willing to part with you, though
if I thought I could not see you and be happy with you in another world,
I could not bear to part. I am willing to leave all my friends. I am
willing to leave my brother, though I love him better than any creature
living. I have committed him and all my friends to God, and can leave
them with God!"

Presently, looking at the Bible in her hands, he said, "Oh that dear
Book