I took great delight in arranging his and A.’s presents, and getting them safely into their bags.  He enjoyed Christmas as much as I had reason to expect he would, in his state of health, and was busy among his new playthings all day.  He had taken a fancy within a few weeks to kneel at family prayers with me at my chair, and would throw one little arm round my neck, while with the other hand he so prettily and seriously covered his eyes.  As their heads touched my face as they knelt, I observed that Eddy’s felt hot when compared with A.’s; just enough so to increase my uneasiness.  On entering the nursery on New Year’s morning, I was struck with his appearance as he lay in bed; his face being spotted all over.  On asking Margaret about it, she said he had been crying, and that this occasioned the spots.  This did not seem probable to me, for I had never seen anything of this kind on his face before.  How little I knew that these were the last tears my darling would ever shed.

On Sunday morning, January 4, not being able to come himself, Dr. Buck sent Dr. Watson in his place.  I told Dr. W. that I thought Eddy had water on the brain; he said it was not so, and ordered nothing but a warm bath.  On Thursday, January 8, while Margaret was at dinner, I knelt by the side of the cradle, rocking it very gently, and he asked me to tell him a story.  I asked what about, and he said, “A little boy,” on which I said something like this:  Mamma knows a dear little boy who was very sick.  His head ached and he felt sick all over.  God said, I must let that little lamb come into my fold; then his head will never ache again, and he will be a very happy little lamb.  I used the words little lamb because he was so fond of them.  Often he would run to his nurse with his face full of animation and say, “Marget!  Mamma says I am her little lamb!” While I was telling him this story his eyes were fixed intelligently on my face.  I then said, “Would you like to know the name of this boy?” With eagerness he said, “Yes, yes, mamma!” Taking his dear little hand in mine, and kissing it, I said, “It was Eddy.”  Just then his nurse came in and his attention was diverted, so I said no more.

On Sunday, January 11, at noon, while they were all at dinner, I was left alone with my darling for a few moments, and could not help kissing his unconscious lips.  To my utter amazement he looked up and plainly recognised me and warmly returned my kiss.  Then he said feebly, but distinctly twice, “I want some meat and potato.”  I do not think I should have been more delighted if he had risen from the dead, once more to recognise me.  Oh, it was such a comfort to have one more kiss, and to be able to gratify one more wish!

On Friday, January 16th, his little weary sighs became more profound, and, as the day advanced, more like groans; but appeared to indicate extreme fatigue, rather than severe pain.  Towards night his breathing became quick and laborious, and between seven and eight slight spasms agitated his little feeble frame.  He uttered cries of distress for a few minutes, when they ceased, and his loving and gentle spirit ascended to that world where thousands of holy children and the blessed company of angels and our blessed Lord Jesus, I doubt not, joyfully welcomed him.  Now we were able to say, It is well with the child!