“Is not that a specimen of humility?  The stealing was because of his neglect of duty, and his neglect of duty was because of inability, having obtained his office through the merit of his father or grandfather.  Of course he kept the umbrella.”

August 18, 1887, marked the fortieth anniversary of Dr. Talmage’s arrival in China.  He said so little about it, however, that it was not known by the friends of the other missions until the very day dawned.

The members of the English Presbyterian Mission—­ladies and gentlemen—­immediately concluded to secure some suitable memento expressive of their regard for Dr. Talmage and his work.  A set of Macaulay’s History of England, bound in tree calf, and a finely bound copy of the latest edition of the Royal Atlas, were sent for.  In connection with the presentation the following letter from Rev. W. McGregor was read: 

“Amoy, April 3, 1888.

“Dear Dr. Talmage: 

“When on the 18th of last August we learned that that day was the fortieth anniversary of your arrival in China, the news came upon us unexpectedly.  We wished we had had more forethought and kept better count of the years, so that we might have made more of the occasion.  Each of us felt a desire to present you with some token of our regard, and it seemed to us for many reasons best that we should do so unitedly as members of the English Presbyterian Mission in Amoy.  We had at the time nothing suitable to offer you, but we agreed on certain books to be sent for,—­not as having any special relations to the work in which you have been engaged, but as being each a standard work of its kind.  The books have now arrived, and I have much pleasure in sending them to you as something that may be kept in your family as a memorial of the day and a small token of our high esteem for yourself personally and of the great value we attach to the work you have done in the service of our common Lord.

“I am, yours truly,

“Wm. McGregor.

“On behalf of the members of the English Presbyterian Mission, Amoy.”

Dr. Talmage was blessed with a most vigorous physical constitution, but years of struggle with one of the complaints peculiar to the tropics, finally compelled his retirement from the Mission field.

In the summer of 1889, Dr. and Mrs. Talmage embarked on the steamship Arabia for the United States.  Dr. Talmage turned his face to the old home-village, Bound Brook, New Jersey, all the time cherishing the hope of one more return to China and his laying down the shepherd’s crook and robe among the flock he had gathered from among the heathen.  That hope was not to be realized.  Though he had left Amoy, yet he ceased not to do what he could for the work there.  Though compelled to lie on his back much of the time, making writing difficult, he sent letters to the Chinese Monthly Magazine and to not a few of the pastors, encouraging them in their labors.