He
rested from his labors March 12th, 1856, and, as his mind wandered
in the delirium of that brain fever, he dwelt much on those days
when he first learned the way to Christ. He would say, "O, Miss
Fiske was right when she pointed out that way;" and then he would
shout, "Free grace! free grace!" till he sunk away unconscious.
Again he would say, "That blessed Mr. Stocking! O, it was free
grace." These were almost his last words. The daughter who prayed
with him that first Saturday was by his dying bed, and her voice in
prayer was the last earthly sound that fell upon his ear.
It may strike the reader as strange that a man so notorious for
wickedness as Deacon Guwergis was, should be allowed in the
Seminary; but Oriental notions of hospitality are widely different
from ours; and in order to do good to a people, however rude, they
must feel that you are their friend. No protection from government
can take the place of this feeling of affectionate confidence from
the people; and while sufficient help was at hand to repel any overt
wickedness, the highest usefulness required that patient love should
have its perfect work, and in this case, at least, its labor was not
unrewarded.
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