Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/239

Rh For weeks he was confined to his bed, or lifted from it with great care to a lounge. Then he rallied sufficiently to sit up a little in an invalid chair, and finally was able to walk, with two supporting him, through the hall and adjoining rooms. This was a great pleasure to him, and he evidently was very proud to show off his powers of locomotion to his physician. He always wanted family prayers held in his room. On a very few occasions, when he seemed too ill, they were held in the sitting-room, but his disappointment was so great that it was thought best to have them as quietly as possible at his side. The Bible was read to him a great deal, and every morning he wanted to hear the daily portion from Dr. J. R. Miller’s beautiful “Come ye apart.” This was the third year of his reading it through, and he enjoyed it as much as ever. All through his illness he frequently repeated Cowper’s hymn,—

He never tired of the beautiful words, and wanted all his grandchildren to learn them.

His brother, Mr. Peter Carter, visited him at least once a week while he was at Boonton. Three of his children were with him all the time, and the fourth, at Huntington, Long Island, came as often as possible. Two of his clerks who had been with him, one for thirty-seven, the other for thirty-three years, also came out to see him. The firm of the Carters had been remarkable for the long continuance of employees in its service. One, who died in 1885, had been with them for forty years. Like all their employees, he was a man of sterling integrity. The same year their