Upon hearing of the death of this nephew, Mr. Lawrence addressed to his parents the following letter of sympathy:
"Boston, October 22, 1847.
"Dear Brother and Sister: God speaks to us through the rustling of the leaves no less distinctly than in the voice of the whirlwind and the storm; and it is now our business and our privilege to look at him and to him for the lesson of yesterday. Dear W., as he parted from me the Sabbath noon before the last, looked the embodiment of health, long life, and happiness. Now, that noble figure, face, expression, and loved spirit, which lightened his path, is no longer among us, to be in danger of injury from our yielding him that which belongs to God only. Were we not liable, dear brother and sister, to interrupt those communings which God calls us to with himself? He is our merciful Father, and does for us what he sees is best; and, if we receive his teachings, however dark they may appear to us at present, all will be made clear at the right time. Your precious treasure is secured, I trust, and will prove an increased attraction to you to follow; and it seems to me that our children are uniting in their joyful meeting in heaven. May we see in this event, more clearly than ever, where we are to look for direction, instruction, and support! May we be ready when called! So prays your affectionate and afflicted brother,
A. L."
To a friend he writes, Dec. 27:
"In our domestic relations, we are all as we could desire, save the individual case of my brother William, who is barely remaining this side Jordan, and in a happy state, I trust, to pass over. For a number of days, we have supposed each might be the last but he may continue for some days, or possibly weeks. Death strikes right and left, and takes from our midst the long-honored and beloved, in their maturity. Dr. Codman and Judge Hubbard are both to be buried to-day; two men whose places will not soon be filled, I fear. Only last Tuesday, in my ride with good Dr. Sharp, we agreed to call and pay our respects to Dr. C. on Thursday; but, on that morning, learned that he was dead. On Thursday, Judge Hubbard rode out, and transacted legal business as a magistrate; in the evening went to bed as usual; in the night-time was turned over in bed, as he requested to be, and ceased to breathe. How could a good man pass over Jordan more triumphantly and gloriously?"
The reader will not fail to note the coïncidence, that, almost exactly five years later, Mr. Lawrence was summoned to "pass over" in the same manner, which, from the expression used, seems to have been to him so desirable; though his own departure was still more sudden and striking.
(TO A PHYSICIAN.)
"Sabbath evening, seven o'clock.
"Dear W.: I have been reading to —— the last hour, beginning at the second chapter of Matthew, and so on in course. Please look at the fourth chapter, and the latter part of the twenty-third verse, and I think you will need no apology for doing what you do, with such instruction. Christ's example, no less than his precepts, is designed to be practically useful to the whole family of man; and I feel humbled and grieved that I have not followed him better, and preached better by all the motives he has thus spread out. I say, then, to you and yours, God bless you in your good work, and make you a worthy follower of the Beloved!
A. L."