Making many glad - Baker - XXXI - Chapter 15 (Closing scenes) commenced

--> Required reading
Making many glad: The life and labours of Daniel Baker by William M. Baker (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Chapter 15 (Closing scenes) by reading up to the paragraph commencing 'On the next Sabbath he not only preached morning and night, but made in the afternoon a special address to professing Christians...'

My summary
Today we begin to hear about Baker's final days.

We learn about Baker's:
(i) continual support for the college, right up to the end;
(ii) good character;
(iii) response of many to his death;
(iv) wife's last farewell to him;
(v) failing health;
(vi) last preaching and fundraising efforts.

What grabbed me
I was interested to learn more about Baker's wife today: 'In the morning of October 22d, 1857, Dr. Baker took his usual affectionate leave of his family, little thinking, he or they, that never more on earth was he to see their faces. His wife followed him, as his horse was led to the block for him to mount. From the hour she, had given herself to him, so many years before, to be his wife, she had as faithfully fulfilled the duties allotted to her, by their common Lord, as he had the duties allotted to him. And, as the wife and helpmeet of such a man, her duties were great, beyond what ordinarily devolves upon a minister's wife by far. As the wife of his bosom, as the mother of his children, yea, as her with whom he took, beyond the wont of most husbands, sweet counsel, and walked unto the house of God in company, their relationship to each other had been peculiarly happy; a closer or happier, earth never knew. He is as hale and strong as she is fragile, yet together they have trod the pilgrimage of life, together they approach its end. With anxiety she noticed the difficulty he had in seating himself upon the restive animal, and, with many charges to be careful, she bade him an affectionate adieu. For the first time in a long life, as she afterward remarked, she felt in parting with him, instead of the usual sense of pain, a singular sense of actual pleasure. Was it a premonition of their next meeting? Parting, thus, at the gate of their home, it was a separation of only a few months; they have met since within the gates of their eternal home, never to know parting more.'

She must have indeed been a remarkable woman with a husband away so much of the time.

Next week's reading
Conclude Chapter 15 (Closing scenes).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.