mother as though they felt and understood their import.  I begged them not to be wearied with my importunity, and wearied they had been had they not cared for the things belonging to their everlasting peace.  I knew not how to part with them that night until they should yield themselves, body, soul and spirit, to Whom they had been invited often to go.”  After this, Joseph’s disease rapidly advanced, and the physicians pronounced his case hopeless.  He was throughout meek, quiet, patient.  Mrs. Hunt again writes:  “Sabbath morning, November 30, I endeavored to entreat God to make this the spiritual birthday of my children.  I was with Joseph in the morning, reading and conversing with him.  In the afternoon I urged him to go to Christ just as he was, feeling his own nothingness, and casting himself upon His mercy.  He replied, in a low, solemn voice, ’I have tried to go many times, but I want faith to believe I shall be accepted.’  After a few minutes he said, ’Sometimes I think I shall be, and sometimes that I shall not be.’  Again, there was a pause and waiting, and then his gentle voice was heard saying, ‘I can give my heart to the Savior.’  Truly did I bless God for his loving kindness and tender mercy.”  It is worthy of observation, that the evening before, Saturday, a small number of pious young men of their acquaintance met for special prayer on behalf of Joseph, De Witt, and another young man very ill.  I continue to quote Mrs. H.:  “On Friday night, the 2d of January, I asked him in regard to his feelings.  He replied, ’I pray that I may give myself away to Christ, and He may be with me when I pass through the valley of the shadow of death.’  I remarked, then, Joseph, you want to enter the heavenly Canaan, to praise Him, and cast your crown at his feet.  He said, ’Yes, to put on the robe of righteousness.’  On Wednesday night, January 7, he was restless.  After he awoke on Thursday morning, I said to him, Joseph, try now to compose yourself to prayer; to which he assented and closed his eyes.  During the day he remarked to me, ’I prayed for the teachings of God’s Holy Spirit that I might be made wise unto salvation; that he would lift upon me the light of his countenance, and uphold me with his free Spirit; give me more light that I may tell around what a precious Savior I have found.  I say, Precious Savior, wash me in thine own blood, and make me one of thine own children.  I come to thee just as I am, a poor sinner.’” On Wednesday, the day before De Witt received the letter from his uncle, Dr. Scudder, before referred to and quoted.  “Joseph wished me to read it to him, which I did.  After I had finished, he remarked, ’Before Uncle Scudder prays for me all his prayers will be fulfilled,’ but afterwards added, ’he thought his uncle would now be praying for him, and sending a letter to him.’” After this he grew weaker and weaker, and continued peacefully and patiently to wait his coming death, giving expressions of fond attachment to his mother, in acknowledgment