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this brief record； avoiding its end。 But； even as the close came upon her；
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so must it come here。
Always impelled by an intense conviction that her life must not be
dreamed away； and that her indulgence in her favourite pursuits must be
balanced by action in the real world around her； she was indefatigable in
her endeavours to do some good。 Naturally enthusiastic； and
conscientiously impressed with a deep sense of her Christian duty to her
neighbour； she devoted herself to a variety of benevolent objects。 Now； it
was the visitation of the sick； that had possession of her； now； it was the
sheltering of the houseless； now； it was the elementary teaching of the
densely ignorant； now； it was the raising up of those who had wandered
and got trodden under foot； now； it was the wider employment of her own
sex in the general business of life； now； it was all these things at once。
Perfectly unselfish； swift to sympathise and eager to relieve； she wrought
at such designs with a flushed earnestness that disregarded season；
weather； time of day or night； food； rest。 Under such a hurry of the
spirits； and such incessant occupation； the strongest constitution will
commonly go down。 Hers； neither of the strongest nor the weakest；
yielded to the burden； and began to sink。
To have saved her life； then； by taking action on the warning that
shone in her eyes and sounded in her voice； would have been impossible；
without changing her nature。 As long as the power of moving about in
the old way was left to her； she must exercise it； or be killed by the
restraint。 And so the time came when she could move about no longer；
and took to her bed。
All the restlessness gone then； and all the sweet patience of her natural
disposition purified by the resignation of her soul； she lay upon her bed
through the whole round of changes of the seasons。 She lay upon her bed
through fifteen months。 In all that time； her old cheerfulness never
quitted her。 In all that time； not an impatient or a querulous minute can
be remembered。
At length； at midnight on the second of February； 1864； she turned
down a leaf of a little book she was reading； and shut it up。
The ministering hand that had copied the verses into the tiny album
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was soon around her neck； and she quietly asked； as the clock was on the
stroke of one：
〃Do you think I am dying； mamma？〃
〃I think you are very； very ill to…night； my dear！〃
〃Send for my sister。 My feet are so cold。 Lift me up？〃
Her sister entering as they raised her； she said： 〃It has come at last！〃
And with a bright and happy smile； looked upward； and departed。
Well had she written：
Why shouldst thou fear the beautiful angel； Death； Who waits thee at
the portals of the skies； Ready to kiss away thy struggling breath； Ready
with gentle hand to close thine eyes？
Oh what were life； if life were all？ Thine eyes Are blinded by their
tears； or thou wouldst see Thy treasures wait thee in the far…off skies； And
Death； thy friend； will give them all to thee。
CHAUNCEY HARE TOWNSHEND EXPLANATORY
INTRODUCTION TO 〃RELIGIOUS OPINIONS〃 BY THE LATE
REVEREND CHAUNCEY HARE TOWNSHEND
Mr。 Chauncey Hare Townshend died in London； on the 25th of
February 1868。 His will contained the following passage：…
〃I appoint my friend Charles Dickens； of Gad's Hill Place； in the
County of Kent； Esquire； my literary executor； and beg of him to publish
without alteration as much of my notes and reflections as may make
known my opinions on religious matters； they being such as I verily
believe would be conducive to the happiness of mankind。〃
In pursuance of the foregoing injunction； the Literary Executor so
appointed （not previously aware that the publication of any Religious
Opinions would be enjoined upon him）； applied himself to the
examination of the numerous papers left by his deceased friend。 Some of
these were in Lausanne； and some were in London。 Considerable delay
occurred before they could be got together； arising out of certain claims
preferred； and formalities insisted on by the authorities of the Canton de
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Vaud。 When at length the whole of his late friend's papers passed into
the Literary Executor's hands； it was found that Religious Opinions were
scattered up and down through a variety of memoranda and note…books；
the gradual accumulation of years and years。 Many of the following
pages were carefully transcribed； numbered； connected； and prepared for
the press； but many more were dispersed fragments； originally written in
pencil； afterwards inked over； the intended sequence of which in the
writer's mind； it was extremely difficult to follow。 These again were
intermixed with journals of travel； fragments of poems； critical essays；
voluminous correspondence； and old school…exercises and college themes；
having no kind of connection with them。
To publish such materials 〃without alteration〃； was simply impossible。
But finding everywhere internal evidence that Mr。 Townshend's Religious
Opinions had been constantly meditated and reconsidered with great pains
and sincerity throughout his life； the Literary Executor carefully compiled
them （always in the writer's exact words）； and endeavoured in piecing
them together to avoid needless repetition。 He does not doubt that Mr。
Townshend held the clue to a precise plan； which could have greatly
simplified the presentation of these views； and he has devoted the first
section of this volume to Mr。 Townshend's own notes of his
comprehensive intentions。 Proofs of the devout spirit in which they were
conceived； and of the sense of responsibility with which he worked at
them； abound through the whole mass of papers。 Mr。 Townshend's varied
attainments； delicate tastes； and amiable and gentle nature； caused him to
be beloved through life by the variously distinguished men who were his
compeers at Cambridge long ago。 To his Literary Executor he was
always a warmly…attached and sympathetic friend。 To the public； he has
been a most generous benefactor； both in his munificent bequest of his
collection of precious stones in the South Kensington Museum； and in the
devotion of the bulk of his property to the education of poor children。
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ON MR。 FECHTER'S ACTING
The distinguished artist whose name is prefixed to these remarks
purposes to leave England for a professional tour in the United States。 A
few words from me； in reference to his merits as an actor； I hope may not
be uninteresting to some readers； in advance of his publicly proving them
before an American audience； and I know will not be unacceptable to my
intimate friend。 I state at once that Mr。 Fechter holds that relation
towards me； not only because it is the fact； but also because our friendship
originated in my public appreciation of him。 I had studied his acting
closely； and had admired it highly； both in Paris and in London； years
before we exchanged a word。 Consequently my appreciation is not the
result of personal regard； but personal regard has sprung out of my
appreciation。
The first quality observable in Mr。 Fechter's acting is； that it is in the
highest degree romantic。 However elaborated in minute details； there is
always a peculiar dash and vigour in it； like the fresh atmosphere of the
story whereof it is a part。 When he is on the stage；