168 HISTORY OP BISHOP AUCKLAND. lying on his deathbed. Shortly after his arrival, Father Faber was seized by a violent attack of bronchitis. Inflammation of the lungs speedily resulted, and symptoms of disease of the heart which manifested themselves made the case aknning. True to his habits of work, Father Faber insisted on seeing every day the proof sheets which were sent to him of the new edition of his Hymns, and even made additions to them. On hearing that Lady Minna Howard, who assisted him in the revision of them, had expressed surprise that he could write such beautiful verses as the 19th, 20th, and 21st of "The Starry Skies," when suffering so much, he asked whether she did not know that swans always sang sweetest when they were going to die. Happily the disease took a favourable turn, and Father Faber, rallying with his usual power, was able to return to London. But the frequent attacks to which he had been subject for so long a time had made an inroad into his constitution, and during the year 1862 it was judged advisable by his medical attendant that he should abstain &om preaching during the whole of that year. On the 3rd of December he wrote : " It is fifteen years to-day that the Cardinal and I said Mass in his chapel at Golden Square, to see whether we were to join the Oratory. What a long fifteen years it seems, and you see both Anthony and I have lived our lives too quick, and are now getting shelved.*' As the Lent of 1863 approached, Father Faber, anxious to resume his share of sermons, determined to begin preaching again on the Sunday mornings of that season- This was agreed to by his medical adviser, on condition that his intention should not be advertised, and that another preacher should be prepared with a sermon, in case Father Faber should find himself unable to preach when the time came. On four out of the five Sundays he was in the pulpit, but on the third Sunday in Lent he was prevented by illness from appearing thera Shortly after Easter, which in that year feU on the 5th of April, it became evident that the infirmities from which he suffered were assuming a more serious character. Additional advice was called in, and it was discovered that the malady called Bright's disease had fastened upon him, and had already made considerable advances. During the month of April he paid two or three visits to Southend, without, however, deriving much benefit from the change. On the 26th of the same month, the anniversary of the founda- tion of the Oratory at King William Street, he said Mass for the last time. In the meanwhile he was getting rapidly worse, and on the 16th of June, after the visit of the doctors, it was thought necessary to administer to him the last sacraments. He still, however, continued occa- sionally strong enough to be carried down to a carriage, and to take short drives. Once or twice he visited St. Mary's, Sydenham, where he would sit on the lawn overlooking the view into Kent, and give directions about the superintendence of the grounds when he should himself be gone. His last visit there was on the 24th of June, after which time he felt imequal to so distant an excursion. We conclude this brief sketch of one of the most remarkable men connected with our town by the following extracts from his " Life and Letters," already alluded to : — Matters continued in the same state during the month of August, but early in September, as the patient's weakness increased, attacks of delirium became frequent, and the sedatives employed to promote sleep caused so much irritation that he experienced but little relief from them. He received the Holy Communion daily up to the 24th of September inclusive. A considerable change was perceptible on the 25th. He became quite still, and his attendants were able to put him into bed, which had not been done since the month of June. Here he lay supported by pillows, not speaking, but gazing steadily at a large white crucifix before him, and moving his eyes sometimes from one of the Five Wounds to another. As evening came on it was clear that his end was approaching, and his confessor. Father Dalgaims, determined to watch with him through the night, as well as Father Cumberlege. When he was told that his death was near, he only repeated fervently his favourite exclamation, " God be praised !" Shortly after inidnight the Community was summoned to assist at his last moments, and the commendation of his soul was made, but the crisis passed over, and the Fathers again retired. When the writer entered his room at six o'clock on the morning of the 26th, it was plain that he was not likely to live more than an hour. The time passed almost in silence ; the dying Father was lying on his bed breathing Digitized by Google
