Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-03-28
Close of q Noble
Young Life.

Extract from letter to a religious pa
per touching the death of VIM. Fenner
Coor-P Fender, who. died in this city the
night OF the 25th.l
1t was the day of his death. The doctor
has told US of his approaching departure.
well, Will, how do you feel this morn
ing?" "Tolerably comfortable, brother
George, but very sleepy"
"Yes," said /, but don't you want to
wake up and talk to men
"What do you want to talk to me about,
brother George2"
about your condition, Will; how do
you feel about your condition now2"
"Well, sometimes | feel that it is hopeful
and at others, l feel that it is very precari
ous."
"But, Will, in regard to your faiths
your faith fixed on Christ :"
'Oh l understand you now" he re-
sponded. you refer to my spiritual condi-
lion. and then went on with perfect calm
ness and the slowness which his troubled
George, will tell you frankly about that.
l once felt that my faith was fixed, but
afterwards found that had Sudden away
| from Christ under temptation. Months
and years of wandering followed. But, for
months before / was taken sick | mad been
making an honest effort to retrace the lost
steps of my wandering. | took my Bible
| again, read such good books as l could
get, resorted to meditation and prayer.
/ consulted no high earthly authorities,
| but l went directly to the Lord Jesus
Christ Himself -'and in my seeking" he
continued after little, II seemed to see
Him stretching out His hand to me. And
| felt if could only rise up and take that
| hand by faith and PRAYER
| "And, / believe" added the dear fellow
family, after considerable pause for
breath, 81 believe He has received me
back, brother George, He heard even my
poor, imperfect pleadings, and answered
in torgiving love-"
"Since l have been sick" he resumed
after q while, II have thought seriously
and constantly of these things more thar
, any of you have known-though | hav'
never said word to any one about them.
you have, of course, thought much o
death during your sickness have you not
Will 2"
YES" he responded, with perfect calm
ness, ''and you think it is near do your"
"Yes, WILL" 1 replied, the docto
thinks you are fast failing. You can liv'
only few hours longer
"Well," he replied, 'they may be right
: but do not feel that death is so near"
q And you would like to live, if it i
God will, would you not2"
Certainly" he responded, that is hu
Q man nature; but if, on the other hand, it
a Gods will that l die, l am perfectly re
signed-I have no fear of DEATH
d At another time he called for me an
asked me to read TO him that beautft
hundred and third psalm" l read
i slowly, and he drank in every word.
g Now read me that chapter in John thi
YOU so much loye,n said be-
10 (which one, Will? The one beginning
,. Let not your heart be troubled ;" | asked
If Yes, that's it," he replied eagerly, IAN
u how appropriate that is to my case ju:
= now !"
!, He listened with profound attention t
the end, Ginning in with the words
: Peace leave with you. Ny peace
give unto you. Not as the world givett
g give / unto you. Let not your heart b
. then said with solemn emphasis, "Thos
:. are precious words, and they have done m
/. soul good. / feel better now. Give m
n some water and let me rest awhile.n
!, Twice more he called for me and talke
> with even greater strength and clearness
u conviction. Near unto death, he sale
" and repeated it with emphasis:
"Yes, l am perfectly satisfed-perfectl
Il satisfied that, in my last moments, Chri
Q will be my friend, and l have no fear fC
e the future"
a l need not follow him farther. 1t
q enough to add that, shortly sfterward, h
literally fell ssleep in Jesus. No suns,
~ was ever calmer or more glorious than tn
going out of that noble young life. -