to fail. She had symptoms of a painful malady; but her patience and hopefulness prevented her family for a long time from thinking her case so serious as it was. Her brother Isaac was to her the same devoted friend that she had, during his illness, been to him. After trial of other places, in search of health, Jane returned to Ongar; and, as her strength declined, it was her beloved brother who carried her up and down stairs, and tried by every means, aided by the solicitude of the tenderest parents, to cheer the sufferer. And she was cheered; for heavenly support was given her, and her mind was stayed in perfect peace.
The decline was so gradual, that the end was rather sudden. She herself was the first to announce the change she felt. On the 13th of April, 1824, she cheerfully said, "Put me on a clean cap, and set the room to rights, for I am going." In answer to an inquiry of her father's, she said, in a firm voice, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil;" and then lay quite still. About a quarter of an hour before her death, her youngest brother, Jeffrey, asked her if she felt any pain. She replied, "No, dear; only a little sleepy;" and soon after, with one long sigh, she died[1] to the deep grief and loss of her parents and family—to her own eternal gain.
- ↑ Autobiography and other Memorials of Mrs. Gilbert, vol. ii. p. 49.
