Page:The Life of Mary Baker Eddy (Wilbur).djvu/449

Rh home she rested for a while in her study and then asked Mrs. Sargent to bring her pencil and tablet. On the tablet she wrote:

“God is my Life.”

Her message seemed written for the world, for though she spoke to her family after that, these were her last written words.

It was apparent to those who were used to her habits of living that she was withdrawing from them minute by minute after this drive. On Thursday evening she had her supper in her bedchamber. On Friday she arose and was dressed, and remained for almost the usual hours in her study, but did no writing. She retired to her bed that night not to rise again in this world. Members of her household watched with her and she spoke with them, assuring them she felt no pain. She was conscious that her students were opening their minds to the realization of Life; this conscious thought was, as it had been for fifty years, her great and only physician. As one falling asleep, at a quarter before eleven o’clock, Saturday night, she ceased to breathe, passing out of earth consciousness.

In compliance with laws of Massachusetts which require that a medical examiner shall issue a death certificate where there has been no physician in charge at the hour of physical dissolution, Dr. George L. West of Newton Centre, medical examiner for the district, was summoned early Sunday morning. Dr. West, after the usual investigation, pronounced death due to natural causes and issued the customary certificate.