sail home, however slowly.  But with both a rickety ship and a disabled engine the port should be near at hand or there is danger of shipwreck.  That Father Hecker did not die long before he did, was due, apart from God’s special designs, to the extraordinary skill and care of Doctor James Begen, who was also an attached friend.  Mr. Anthony Ellis, one of his former penitents, served him in his sick-room out of pure love from 1879 until his death, which preceded Father Hecker’s by about a year.  He had a kind-hearted successor in Mr. Patrick McCann.

Father Hecker’s beloved brother George died on February 14, 1888.  He had been ailing for some time and Father Hecker went to see him frequently. . . .  “George and I,” he once said, “were united in a way no words can describe.  Our union was something extremely spiritual and divine.”  The following memorandum tells how Father Hecker received the news: 

“George Hecker died about nine o’clock last night, and when I informed Father Hecker of it this morning he was deeply moved.  ’Don’t say a word to me!’ he cried, ’not a word.  Read something!  Read something quick!’ I stepped over to the table and took the Scriptures and began to read the thirteenth chapter of St. John, read it through, and another chapter.  By that time he calmed down.  He only wept twice, except a few little sobs, and went out riding as usual this afternoon.  He is profoundly moved.  ‘I knew it,’ he said this morning; ’I saw it, I saw it last night—­it seemed to me that I saw it.  I came near coming to your room at half-past ten, but concluded not to do so.’  Another time to-day he said:  ’If God enables me to bear this I hope I shall be able to do my allotted work.’”

He bore it well, but it added very much to a burden already too heavy.  For some weeks afterwards he now and then moaned and wept for his brother, and this happened occasionally till summer came.  Those who attended Father Hecker could not but be convinced, from what they saw and heard, that God allowed George to visit his brother more than once after his death, and these supernatural interviews were productive of mingled consolation of soul and pain of body to the survivor.  George Hecker was worthy of his brother’s love.  He was a noble character, full of that sort of religion nowadays most needed.  His piety flourished in the withering atmosphere of wealth and in the turmoil of commercial life.  Industry, thrift, enterprise, quick perception of opportunities, determination, a keen sense of his rights and a bold hand to defend them, manly frankness, were conspicuous traits in him and made him a rich merchant.  But all these qualities served him as well for high spiritual ends.  He was essentially and dominantly a spiritual man, fond of prayer, regular in all religious duties.  He was as honest as the day, and all for conscience’ sake and the love of God.  His understanding was wide and clear, his heart tender, simple, and courageous.  He loved