"That bright and glorious era for India and the world I have long seen in the vision of faith. The vividly real hope of it has often sustained me amid toils and sufferings, calamities and reproaches, disappointment and reverse. And the assured prospect of its ultimate realisation helps now to shoot some gleams of light athwart the darkness of my horizon, and so far to blunt the keen edge of grief and sadness when about to bid a final adieu to these long-loved Indian shores . . . Some of you may live to witness not merely its blissful dawn, but its meridian effulgence; to me that privilege will not be vouchsafed. My days are already in the sere and yellow leaf . . . the sap and vigour of summer's out-bursting fulness have well-nigh gone, leaving me dry and brittle like a withered herb or flower at the close of autumn; the hoar frost of old age, age prematurely old, grim wintry old age is fast settling down upon me. But whether, under the ordinance of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity, my days be few or many, whether my old age be one of decrepitude or of privileged usefulness, my best and latest thoughts will be of India. Wherever I wander, wherever I rest, my heart will be still in India." So, attended by sorrowing, weeping friends, the wearied wasted Missionary went down to the ghaut, and embarked for Britain. Oh! What tear-dimmed eyes watched him as the vessel weighed anchor, and followed him as the ship moved farther and farther away, which bore from his Indian children their friend and father! At last it was seen no more! Dr. Duff had departed, but never to be forgotten; perhaps to this day there is no man's name remembered in India with deeper reverence and love, than that of the devoted Missionary, the gifted teacher, the Christian hero whose story we are relating. ———————— CHAPTER XIV. A GOLDEN SUNSET. [Illustration] As this little book is specially designed to tell of Dr. Duff's mission work in India, no account need be given of his many labours after quitting her shore. This however must be said, that if Dr. Duff had reached "grim wintry old age," in that season, his life bore richer fruit to the glory of God and the good of man, than one mortal out of a thousand brings forth during life's whole year. And on what labours, and what success the noble Duff could look back, since in youth's springtime he gave himself to the Lord!