LIFE AND LETTERS OF JOSEPH HARDY NEESIMA

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318 LAST YEARS AND DEATH. year. The plan proposed in 1887 for a union of the Congregational and Presbyterian churches of Japan had also greatly troubled him. He was not opposed to the general principle of alliance and cooperation, but he did not favor an organic union, and thus found himself at variance with many long cherished friends and co-workers. Under the shock of his physician's warning he writes Mrs. Hardy, from Tokyo, July 4, 1888:-" Allow me to send yon my compliments for this glorious day of your nation. I came here on the 11th. My wife is with me. She is a sort of policeman over me, watching me lest I overdo. Though I am slightly gaining, I believe I shall never get well again. My doctor says my heart is enlarged and will never re­sume its original size, and that at any time my bod­ily life may soon cease. Of course I bore it rather bravely, but to my wife it !leemed almost unbearable. She was warned to keep it a secret from me. But, a poor creature! she could not keep her secret. I tried to comfort her and told her all my future expectation. However, I found it a hard work to quiet down my own sensitive feelings. Since then she stays with me and does not give me a chance to write much. Just now I sent her off for a few minutes in order to write this letter. Though I am absolutely prepared to r{r sign my future into the tender hand of the Heavenly Father, yet when I think of you, all my past affairs, your motherly and unceasing love, comes at once to my precious memory, and I weep like a babe. I dis­like to pass off suddenly without a good-by to my dear friends. Therefore, though it may be useless to infonn you of such a matter beforehand, I should be sorry to leave this world without sending you my last

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