Page:The McClure Family.djvu/130

108 As to his worldly matters he made no Will. He always said his children knew precisely what disposition he wished made of his effects. As to some small things I have heard him speak, Brande's Encyclopedia of Science, valuable large book—and a copy of Webster's large Dictionary with Worcester additions, publishes by the Harpers. I think he wished Milton to have them if he perseveres in his design of becoming a scholar or professional man. His little Bible I have no doubt he desired some one of his daughters to have, but I never heard him say.

Being removed from office some weeks before his death I had all his sympathies in my favor. I have no doubt of his having been more pained at the event mentally than I was myself. We talked freely about it. As I had purchased a cottage and few acres of ground in the suburbs in a shady, high, dry and well watered place, surrounded by groves and wholly out of the noise of the city, though in its chartered limits, we had agreed that as soon as he could ride a little better than he found he could then on trial, and as a means of gaining strength by change of air and scenery, and as a training for his journey until he got strength enough, he would go with me where we would live in the quiet of country life, with as much of books and friends as we might desire to see or read; and finally, that if travel should turn out to be impracticable till frost or next spring, or if he could not get off at all, that we would remain together in our retreat, doing the best we could—living in frugal comfort and in charity with all the world, for neither of us since we resided here had ever had the slightest dispute or controversy with any man. Our friendship, which commenced in a slight acquaintance in Tennessee, about thirty years ago, had increased daily, as I sincerely believe, for the whole term of our service in Washington. In our retreat, sick or well, we would have been mutual helps. We had proceeded in the plan so far as to have made estimates of expenses, supplies, and every outfit necessary to begin with. Although I ardently desired to see him get off home, and had urged him to go