He died in my arms quietly and happily, and afforded to myself, and all who saw him, a true sight of the end of the righteous man, for his end was emphatically peace. I do not approve much, of the long records of death-bed scenes with which the world is deluged, otherwise I might spin out my observations on the departure of those so dear to me to a much greater length. It was no little trial to me, as may be imagined, that final blow which left me alone in the world-it was no little trial to part with those who had been all in all to me, and me to them all my days. Had I had a brother or a sister, it would have been so far different, I would have had a sharer in my sorrow, and that would have been some consolation, however small; but now I had no kindred nearer than cousins that I had never seen, and I felt myself perfectly solitary, and lost in this great and wide world. Those had gone away whose word had always been my law, and who would have sheltered me in their very bosoms, in every emergency, and now whatever storm should rise, whatever hap should fall me, I was alone myself in the world. Very sadly that night and those following days, alone with my last kindred, did I mourn in secret, and seek guidance from above, that I might be able for whatsoever the Lord had in store for me. And yet I was not alone: John Ogle stood by me like a true friend as he was. All my father's old friends were very kind, but John was like a brother. All that week he never left the house, unless to make the needful arrangements that I could not make; and while in it, he did not obtrude himself on my sorrows; in a separate room he kept all the business of the household and the farm going on, saw all those that called, and saved me. It was kindness which I never could forget, and never will so long as I live, and it was quite disinterested. John accompanied me to the churchyard, joined with me in laying the old man to sleep beside his old companion, and then, when all was over, and my dead was out of my sight, went home again with me, and never left me till I was back at the Manse once more, taking upon himself all the selling of the stock off the farm, and the getting quit of the lease, and all the business that devolved on me at my father's death. Truly, John Ogle was a friend as precious to me as could be any brother. Yet, on the whole, I was strengthened to go through that terrible time. I had not to mourn as if my parents had been careless persons or profligates: I knew well that they had lived all their lives as the servants of the Highest, and had each of them good hope in their death. Still, natural sorrow had great power over me for a time; indeed, I was very near falling into that state the Scripture speaks of "Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted." Longer much than should have been the case, and me a minister too-longer than I would like to tell now-had this sorrow dominion over me; so long, indeed, did the fit continue, that my friends became alarmed, and thought that my mind was injured, and |