"Isn't that beautiful, Power? "`And when on upward wing. Cleaving the sky, Sun, moon, and stars forgot, Upwards I fly; Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee.'" And as he murmured to himself in a soothed tone of voice these verses, and lines of "Jerusalem the Golden," and "O for a closer walk with God," and "Rock of Ages," the wearied brain at last found repose, and Daubeny fell asleep. He lingered on till the end of the week. On the Saturday he ceased to be delirious, and the lucid interval began which precedes death. It was then that he earnestly entreated to be allowed to see those school friends whose names had been so often on his lips--Power, Walter, and Henderson. The boys, who had daily and eagerly inquired for him, entered with a feeling of trembling solemnity the room of sickness. The near presence of death filled them with an indescribable awe, and they felt desolate at the approaching loss of a friend whom they loved so well. "I sent to say good-bye," he said, smiling sweetly. "You must not cry and grieve for me. I am happier than I ever felt before. Good-bye, Walter. It's for a long, long, long time, but not for ever. Good-bye, my dear old Flip--naughty fellow to cry so, when I am happy; and when I am gone, Flip, think of me sometimes, and of talks we've had together, and take your side manfully for God and Christ. Good-bye, Power, my best friend; we meant to be confirmed together, you know, but God has ordered it otherwise." And then he whispered low-- "`Lord shall we come? come yet again? Thy children ask one blessing more; To come not now alone, but then When life, and death, and time are o'er; Then, then, to come, O Lord, and be _Confirmed in heaven--confirmed by Thee_.' "O Power, that line fills me with hope and joy; think of it for me when I am dead," and his voice trembled with emotion as he again murmured, "`Confirmed in heaven--confirmed by Thee.' I'm afraid I'm too weak to talk any more. O, what a long, long good-bye it will be--for years, and years, and years; to think that when you have gone out of the room we shall never meet in life again, and I shall never hear your pleasant voices. O Flip, you make me cry against my will by crying so. It's hard to say, but it must be said at last. Good-bye, God bless you, with all my heart." He laid his hand on their heads as they bent over him, and once mere whispering the last "Good-bye," turned away his face, and made the pillow wet with his warm tears. The sound of his mother's sobs attracted him. "Ah, mother, darling, we are alone now; you will stay with me till I die. I am tired." "I feared that their visit would excite you too much, my child." "O no, mother; I couldn't bear to die without seeing them, I loved them so much. Mother, will you sing to me a _little_--sing me my favourite hymn." She began in a low, sweet voice,--