He became as gentle as a woman. Indeed, Mrs. Sherwood, who had hung up
some of his family portraits about his bed, remarked that in his
sickness he very much resembled the astronomer's mother, his sister. He
comforted his friends, and told them his wishes in case he was "caught
in a worse snap," as he put it.
About this time he was stricken with blindness. Mrs. Sherwood was much
affected. She took down her Bible and read to him. And she read the
beautiful litanies of the Episcopal prayer-book. With her boys she knelt
in prayer by his bedside. The blind eyes moistened; for the strong man's
heart and brain still served him well.
Only a few days before the end, when the whole body was apparently
paralyzed, Dr. Mason inquired if there was any business which he wished
attended to, and Robert Palmer replied:
"My affairs are settled; and, Doctor, you will be paid for your
services."
The last day of April had arrived; but the snow banks were still deep in
the canon. Nothing further had been heard from Henry Francis, but the
old man at last seemed reconciled. Perhaps Francis was not well enough
to come through the snow.
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