The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-10-26
Dying Words Of the Great.


multi of uneasiness and fear, said to one
who stood close beside his bed, GOD
bless you, my dear!"
The celebrated DIR. Adams, rector of
the high school of Edinburgh, in some
moments of delirium preceding his
death, whispered, "It is growing dark.
boys stretching forth his hand, "you
may go!'
Queen Elizabeth of England, lying on
her royal couch. was heard to moan out
the heartrending words as she closed her
eyes forever, CAL my possessions for one
moment of timer
But the noble Wesley simply ex-
claimed, in calmness of spirit, 1.-The
best of all is, God is with us!'
| Poor Robert Burns, out of his head
when he drew his last breath cried, "Oh,
don't let the awkward squad fire over
mel"
How curious, indeed, the Lord Thur
low should have cried out as he passed
away, "I'm shot if 1 don't believe I'm
dying!'
''Ah! mes enfsns,' you cannot cry as
much for me as have made you laugh
in my time!' so said the brilliant wit of
France, Scarron, as he lay dying that
hour with host of weeping friends
around him.
1t was Christian philosopher like John
L cke who exclaimed with his latest
breath, that solemn day, "Oh, the
depth of the riches of the goodness and
knowledge of God"
How strange to think that the great
Mirabeau, after life of such wild dis
cord, should have cried out frantically,
as he lay waiting for the last change,
Music! Let me die to the sound of de-
licious music!'
Washington, with the smile of saint,
looked up into the face of his weeping
wife for the last time as she bent over
him at Mount Vernon that dismal day,
and calmly said, as he crossed his arms
above his noble heart, 1T is WE'LL"
And the last words of Luther's friend,
Melanchthon, are wonderfully striking,
it seems to me. The former asked him
that hour if he desired anything mo,
Luther, no! Nothing, nothing but
heaven!' he answered, and died with
smile upon his face.
The ruling passion may be said to
have been still strong with Chesterfield
when he passed away, for the last words
he uttered we're, "Give Daytolles a
chair!''
Did poor Cowper say anything before
he died-he who had always dreaded
even the thought of dying? Why, it is
said he sank to rest as peacefully as
little child.
All, but what did Hobbies, the
deist, say just before he gasped his
last breath? II am taking fearful leap
in the dark but the sweet Herbert said
"Now, Lord, receive my SOUL"
Dear Goldsmith's physician asked him
few moments before he ceased to
breathe, if his mind was at ease. His
IN curnful answer way, "No, it is not"
And yet was not Goldsmith really as
lovely character at heart, as any man
who ever lived?
The deaf Beethoven, whose soul had
been full of glorious harmony through
out his life, cried out at last, Now l
shall heary
May we not cherish the thought that
Byrons thoughts were of God and
Heaven when he said at last, so YEARLY,
II must sloep now"
The sun was shining very brightly in
the room where the great Humboldt lay
dying, and he said, as he watched the
beautiful rays, "How grand the sun
light! 1t seems to beckon earth to
heavenr
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson
died on the same day. but one said, with
his last breath, Independence foreverr'
and the other, II resign my soul to God
and my daughter to my country"
Sir Thomas More said to an attendant,
as he assembled the scaffold on the day of
his execution. II pray you see me safe
up, and for my coming down let me
shift for myself."
Beautiful Anne Boleyn. just before
she knelt down to lay her head on the
block, clasped her neck with her hand
and said, 1T is small, very small, in
deed"
What could have possessed Franklin
to say to his friends on his death-bed,
"a dying man does nothing well?"
What strange question for Cardinal
Beaufort Tor any other MANI to ask at
the last moment OF life, "Whatl Is there
no oribing DEATH"
Scott said, even when death was
creeping very near. II feel as If were
to be myself again"
And Hood, tired out, whispered only
the words, dying, dyingr'- Boston
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