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The following month Prof. L. was again in Annapolis, pursuant of the effort we had made, and endeavoring to bring as much influence to bear in our behalf as he could. The Legislators expressed themselves as having been astonished at our proficiency and delighted with our musical performances, yet closed their session without granting our petition. So great was Prof. L.'s disappointment, he returned home ill. Dr. Haynel was called in, and pronounced his disease congestion of the brain. We had greatly missed our cherished friend during his brief absence from us, and to have him return so ill was indeed a severe distress. While feeling intensely anxious as to his recovery, I was summoned to attend the funeral of my beloved Uncle B. He had been complaining about a year, but we little thought his death so near. The last time I was with him in life, I told him before I met him again, I hoped he would be better. He silently embraced me for a few moments, then said: "Yes, my dear child, I shall be better when we meet again." Ere again I sought his side he was a cold, inanimate corpse; his sufferings ended, earth had forever passed away, and heaven had become his everlasting home. As I knelt by the sofa, whereon lay his loved form so cold and still, and pressed my hand on his chilled brow, I thought of all his benefits and, tendernesses to me. I felt I had lost one of my best friends, I followed in imagination, his ransomed spirit, to realms of bliss where angelic choristers hymn ever songs of praise, and longed to loose this mortal coil, and like him be forever free. How prayed I that so would my Heavenly Father guide and protect me, I might once again meet those who had gone before, who had tracked the upper stars and passed into Eternal Glory.

We laid him in the silent tomb and left there the form so dear; but he felt not its gloom, heard not the wailing voices of those who mourned, for his spirit was afar off with "just men made perfect." And as we call to mind his many virtues:

"His memory, like some holy light,
Kept alive in our hearts will improve them;
For worth shall look fairer and truth more bright,
When we think how he lived but to love them."

During the summer previous, Prof. L. had had several hemorrhages, and was now rapidly wasting away from that fatal disease, consumption. Dr. Haynel did all human skill could do to bring about his recovery, but in vain. Dr. Johnson was consulted, the physician of the Institution, but unavailingly. Three others were also consulted, but with the same hopeless result. Nothing more could be done for him than already had been done.

On learning this, our grief was indescribable, for we loved him as dearly as though he were a brother. His physicians advised he should go to the country, as change of air might benefit him some little. His brother came to take him home to that mother whose parting tear he so plaintively expressed -- and for whom there was now in store bitter sorrow and many tears.

His parents were residents of Pennsylvania. A few days after his brother's arrival he was prepared to go. Never shall I forget the morning of his departure. All the inmates of the Institution assembled in his room to bid him a long, a last farewell. One by one in silence bade him good-by forever; oh! the agony of emotions that swelled our hearts. We could not speak, words, would not come, they were powerless in this hour of separation. Tears abundant copious tears, took their place, and eloquently told the wealth of affection garnered in our hearts for him who was now leaving us. He too sobbed like a child, for severe as was the trial to us, equally seemed it so to him. He had been counsellor, brother, friend, and we had drank rich draughts of knowledge from lips that ere long would be hushed in death.

He was lifted from his couch and borne to the carriage, and as it rolled away our grief knew no bounds. It seemed as though we had parted from our last, best friend. Just at this time Mr. Newcomer entered and cheeringly said to us: "Come, girls, you have dwelt long enough upon the dark side, the other is all bright and beautiful. Should Mr. L. never return to you, you can go to him. If called to pass Jordan's narrow stream, your loss, though great, will be his infinite and everlasting gain." "I know it is hard for you to part from him, but God, who is too wise to err and too good to be unkind, hath so ordained; therefore you must try and be resigned to his will. In your grief you have the consolation that you have over obeyed his counsels, that his instructions have ever fallen on willing and ready hearts to follow the way he should guide. Then do not murmur or repine at a dispensation rendered by our Heavenly Father. He saw fit to rob him of his manly strength and beauty, and we can but submit."

Mr. N. had always been much beloved by our little band, and these words of consolation found us willing listeners; they calmed our troubled spirits, and made him dearer to us than he had ever been before.