Death of Henry N. White
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the hand of affliction upon me to save me, and if I go down to the
grave now, I have a good hope of coming up with the saints in the first
resurrection. I would appeal to all my young friends, not to let the
pleasures or accomplishments of the world eclipse the loveliness of
the saviour. Remember that the death-bed is a poor place to prepare
for an inheritance in the second life. Spend the best of your days in
serving the lord. Farewell.’
“After this he wished to say especially to his young friends in
Battle Creek: ‘Don’t take my life for an example; give up the world
and be Christians.’ In the evening, as one of his sinking spells was
coming on, all thought that in a few minutes his heaving bosom would
be at rest. He bade each one an affectionate farewell, as they listened
to catch each whisper.
“He inquired for his brothers, and as they came to his side he said,
‘Eddie, I shall not be a brother to you any more; never give up trying
to do right; a death-bed is a poor place for repentance.’ To his younger
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brother he said, ‘willie, be a good boy; obey your parents, and meet
me in heaven. Don’t mourn after I am dead.’ While in calmness and
composure of mind he was taking his farewell, his father said, ‘God
can make a sick-room one of the happiest places on earth;’ and the
cheerful sufferer replied, ‘yes, I know that from experience.’
“He felt anxious lest some one might be away weeping, and in-
quired for his mother, saying, ‘o my dear mother, may God comfort
her.’ After this he inquired if the physician was coming soon, and said
there was not much need of a physician then. His mother asked him if
he suffered pain, and he replied that he did not. He called his father,
and said, ‘father, you are losing your son. You will miss me, but don’t
mourn. It is better for me. I shall escape being drafted, and shall not
witness the seven last plagues. To die so happy is a privilege.’ He said
that music had been his greatest earthly pleasure, and asked edson to
play ‘mount vernon’ for him on the melodeon. Edson went into the
parlor and complied with his request, and on his return henry said,
‘music in heaven will be sweeter than that.’
“On the morning of the 7th, he expressed a wish to die, fearing that
if he lived he would not be able to escape the many dangers to which
the young are exposed. His father told him he must be submissive
to the will of god; that it would be blessed to live to do good in
his service, and blessed to die in the Lord. To this he submissively