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Life Sketches of James White and Ellen G. White 1888
assented. During the day and the night following, his sufferings were
great. For about ten minutes his mind seemed to be wandering. His
father sat near him and supported him in his arms, praying for him,
and trying to soothe and comfort him, and he was soon restored to
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his former clear and peaceful state of mind. He seemed most happy
thus supported in his father’s arms, seeming unwilling for his father to
leave him for a moment.
“December 8th, a short time before his death, he said to his mother,
‘mother, I shall meet you in heaven in the morning of the resurrection,
for I know you will be there.’ He then beckoned to his brothers, parents,
and friends, and gave them all a parting kiss, after which he pointed
upward and whispered, ‘heaven is sweet.’ These were his last words.
And when he could not whisper he expressed the power of that grace
which sustained him in a dying hour, by waving his hand upward,
while a heavenly smile beamed upon his countenance. His breath
grew shorter, and, without a struggle, he sank in death at half-past one
o’clock, p. m.
“His sufferings were over. At an early hour his work on earth had
ended. It was indeed a trying day for the afflicted family, yet they were
sustained by the thought that their dear son and brother was enabled to
calmly resign himself into the hands of his heavenly father; that the
presence of the saviour cheered him as he entered the dark valley, and
that henceforth there was laid up for him a crown of righteousness.
“In compliance with his request, henry was brought to Battle Creek
in a metallic burial casket, and, agreeably to the wishes of many friends,
appropriate funeral services were held, and a large congregation was
addressed by Elder U. Smith. One interesting feature of the occasion
was the order in which the students of the public school, accompanied
by the teachers, came to pay their last token of regard for one of
their number whom they loved. As the speaker proceeded with his
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remarks, many in the congregation were moved to tears. One in the
bright morning of youth, whose course of life had won their highest
regard, had closed his eyes in death, cheered by those sacred hopes
and promises whose attractive light ever takes from the joys of earth
their delusive brightness. The exercises were closed with singing, by
the school,—