"
"God bless you, Edward. Now call the children."
Edward summoned his sisters and Humphrey.
"Humphrey, my good boy," said Jacob, "recollect, that in the midst of
life we are in death; and that there is no security for young or old.
You or your brother may be cut off in your youth; one may be taken,
and the other left. Recollect, your sisters depend upon you, and do
not therefore be rash: I fear that you will run too much risk after
the wild cattle, for you are always scheming after taking them. Be
careful, Humphrey, for you can ill be spared. Hold to the farm as it
now is: it will support you all. My dear Alice and Edith, I am dying;
very soon I shall be laid by your brothers in my grave. Be good
children, and look up to your brothers for every thing. And now kiss
me, Alice; you have been a great comfort to me, for you have read the
Bible to me when I could no longer read myself. May your death-bed be
as well attended as mine has been, and may you live happily, and die
the death of a Christian! Good-by, and may God bless you. Bless you,
Edith; may you grow up as good and as innocent as you are now.
Farewell, Humphrey--farewell, Edward--my eyes are dim--pray for me,
children. O God of mercy, pardon my many sins, and receive my soul,
through Jesus Christ.
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