Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 edition. Excerpt: ... chapter iii the long shadow vigorously as Mr. Brunot lived, the thought of death was often present in these last twenty-five years. He had been too near death himself several times to allow the thought to be unfamiliar. Moreover, the death of his father and mother in 1872 and 1873 had been a severe blow to him. I have already spoken of the filial affection by which, all through life, Mr. Brunot sat at his mother's table at the midday dinner. And how close he was to his father is shown by the record of his father's last hour. "As I held his hand," the son wrote, " after the family farewell, I said, ' It is almost over; in a few hours we must part. Do you still think you are prepared to go?' 'I think so, ' he said; then with a look of intense earnestness, ' I know so.' And these words, consistent with his faith in Christ, were the last he spoke." A few years after this he was called to the funeral of a busy friend who had died in the midst of his toil. Mr. Brunot was so impressed that when he went home he wrote these verses: I am hammering at the anvil, I am holding at the plough; 0 Death! I hear your summons, But I cannot heed it now; Know you not that stocks are rising? See you not I'm pushing on--Buying, building, scheming, thriving--Half my life-work not yet done? Day by day the spikes are driven, Day by day the rails go down; When the work and worry's ended, Mine the riches and renown; Then--but waiting for the grasping--Civic honours loom before; 1 must win them, --when I wear them, Death, I'll drop the labouring oar. No! I cannot heed your summons. See you not I've work to do? When my threescore years are over, Then, O Death, I'll think of you; Then, I'll listen to your calling, Rid my soul of every load; Gird me ready for the journey, ...