bearing some secret charm for him, every shrub and flower having its own place in the home affections they all 'took root in love.'

"In my brother's character I often noticed one failing. When he saw anything in the conduct of any person that displeased him, or where there was on his own part a dislike, he was apt to express himself far too strongly-in a manner quite disproportioned, as I thought, to the nature of the offence. Counterbalancing this, however, was his eager and earnest desire to make immediate and ample reparation when he found that he had done the slightest injustice to any one; and he did it in such a way that he generally bound the individual more closely to him than ever.-One more trait of his character, and I have done: I mean his delight to serve others, whether by good word or deed. There was no end of his painstaking in trying to benefit a friend. Letters were written-personal application was made-no stone was left unturned, when the object was good, and the person to be helped worthy. Unreservedly did he ask for others what his sensitive nature would have shrunk from asking for himself, or for any one of his own family."

CHAPTER III.

LAST ILLNESS, AND DEATH.

We now go down toward the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

On the forenoon of Sabbath, the 22d of June 1851, Mr Moir, in dismounting from his horse at the door of a patient, accidentally hurt his weak limb, and gave himself a severe wrench in trying to save it. He suffered much pain in returning home; nevertheless, he went to church in the afternoon, it being his turn to officiate as elder at the plate. On getting back to his house, he was obliged to go to bed. On Monday, he ventured out in his carriage to see a patient at Granton. Mrs Moir went with him. On his way home he spoke of the general state of his health in a desponding manner, and said to her, "Catherine, I am resigned to the Almighty's will, whensoever it may please Him to call me. I have been trying, for some time past, to live every day as if it were to be my last." On Tuesday he was very unwell,

and complained of severe pain all along his leg. A swelling showed itself above the hip-joint. It was eased by warm fomentations, and his relatives had hope that it was simply the effect of a muscular strain. All the week he continued much in the same state, one while in bed, and another while going about his professional duties; now pretty well and cheerful, now shivering in the midst of heat, sick and faint and depressed in spirit. A piece of plate was to be presented to Mr Beveridge, minister of Inveresk, by the people of his parish and congregation, in testimony of their esteem and gratitude, and Mr Moir was named to deliver the address on making the presentation. This was a

duty quite to his mind and heart, and accordingly he delivered an admirable address in the Town-hall, under the chairmanship of the Provost of Musselburgh. Finding himself no better, he set out on Tuesday the 1st of July, with Mrs Moir and their little boy, John Wilson, to try what a short release from professional cares and change of scene might do for him. They made Ayr in the afternoon. All the night following, he was feverish and restless. A short drive on Wednesday, to show Mrs Moir and his son the cottage where Burns was born, and the other objects of interest in that celebrated locality, was more than enough for him. On getting back to the inn he was seized with a violent spasm, and had nearly fallen. So much alarmed was his wife that she begged to have medical help for him ; but

he refused decisively:-" No, Catherine," he said; "if a doctor were here, he would order me to bed, and I should never rise again. My constitution is making a desperate effort to relieve itself; but, lay me on a bed of sickness, and it is all over with me in this life. You must get me home to-morrow." During the night, however, he had some refreshing sleep, and next day he rose so much recruited that he made up his mind to go on to Dumfries in the afternoon. There he would spend Friday with a friend, and return home to Musselburgh on Saturday.

The scene changes to Dumfries. Towards nine o'clock on Thursday evening, Mr Moir is walking gently down by the side of the Nith, a little below the town, with his wife and son, and myself, enjoying the varied beauties of the place, in the richest light of a July sunset. "Oh me, there's that spasm again!" suddenly he exclaimed, pressing his stomach with his hand; and I saw his face collapse, as if he had been struck through with a musket-ball. We retraced our steps, but very slowly, for his suffering was great. With his usual sensitiveness about having the attention of strangers drawn to him, he would not allow a chaise to be got; but he was thankful to rest for a while on a stone seat at the head of one of the stairs in the Dock-wall. "It will soon pass off," he said, “as it did at Ayr." It did not pass off, however, and we got him back to the King's Arms Inn with great

difficulty, and put to bed. His eldest son, Mr Robert Moir, one of the house-surgeons of the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, having taken presage from a note written to him by his mother from Ayr, was now come; and Dr Blacklock was called in. They proceeded to treat the case as one of peritonitis. The symptoms became more alarming, and Dr Browne of the Crichton Institution, a personal friend of Mr Moir, was brought at midnight. He concurred with Dr Blacklock in thinking the patient in great danger, and young Moir went off to Edinburgh for Dr Christison.

I had retired during the application of leeches; but Drs Blacklock and Browne came for me. Their patient, they said, was sinking fast, and they thought it was my duty to lose no time in making Mrs Moir aware of it. In the brief absence of the medical men, Mr Moir said to his wife-" Catherine, my hours are numbered: I feel that I am not to be long with you. But do not let me distress you, or I will say no more. Look at me, my wife, and see I am perfectly resigned to the will of an All-wise Providence. Have faith: God will protect you and our children." He then calmly explained his wishes regarding his sons, and how the family were to be provided for. By this time the medical men and myself were back to the inn, and, while they took charge of their patient, I did my heavy-hearted message to his faithful wife. I was then allowed to see Mr Moir. "I am going to die," he said, as he