covered their errors with the mantle of silent forbearance. To a soil thus prepared, friendships were indigenous. Some of mine, then formed, have stood the test of half a century, and are still among the solaces of my life. There also sprang up my closest intimacy with an associate of similar age, who was to me a sisterly spirit, a second self, until Death took her, in her beautiful youth. Under the charge of this learned and amiable man, there was a perceptible growth of "whatsoever was lovely and of good report."
His sway sweetly illustrated the beauty of rule and the beauty of obedience. Our grief at the termination of the school was more deep and passionate than aught I have ever seen on a similar occasion. He was to us all the "man greatly beloved." We were as Niobes at the parting interview, when, gathering us around him that last, sad morning, he read once more in his voice of music from the Holy Book, gave us solemn, tender counsels, and, kneeling down, commended us to the blessed care of the "Father of Lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
Thou, who didst bend to guide the timorous mind,
Wise as a father, as a brother kind;
With gentle hand its wayward cause withheld,
Allured, not forced—encouraged, not compelled,
Till the clear eye look'd up, devoid of fears,
I bless thee for thy love, through all this lapse of years.
