Various visiters during the Author's absence. Anecdotes. Dr. Wisner's visit. Nathan's affection for his sister. Anecdotes furnished by several individuals. His conver sation with the Doctor. A Sabbath School teacher and Nathan's proposal about a little school. Symptoms of approaching death. His usual position in bed. A lady reads the prayer for a sick child from the Church Prayer Book. Nathan's interest in A painter takes his miniature. Interesting conversa- tion with his father. He converses cheerfully about his ap- proaching death. He gives his knife to his father, and a CHAPTER I. Goes He is Anec Nathan's father and mother. His character when a little boy. to Sabbath School. Anecdotes. His interest in religion. sick, and goes to visit his grandmother in the country. dotes. What he thought of bad boys on the Common. He returns to Boston. His love for his physician, Dr. Gorham. Dr. G's death, and Nathan's sorrow. Nathan is very sick, and is very much afraid that he shall die. He died in the same NATHAN W. DICKERMAN was born in Boston, the 26th of March, 1822. city, the 2d of January, 1830. He had two sisters,-Maria, a little older, and Rebecca, a few years younger, than himself. Mr. and Mrs. Dickerman had always lived in Boston, and little Nathan, their son, spent almost all his days in that city. He was a pleasant boy. When quite young, he was very lively and playful. He was very fond of his parents. It gave him a great deal of pleasure, to go with his father when he went upon his business; and as he was an only son, it was very natural for his father to love him very much. At an early age, his parents placed him at school, and he there became so good a scholar, and was generally so attentive and diligent in his studies, that he was not only beloved by his instructress, but was esteemed by all who knew him. His manners, too, were so becoming, and he was so affectionate in his behavior towards his playmates, that he was loved by all the boys. Nathan in his earlier ycars received but little religious instruction. He and his sisters were only taught by their mother to say their prayers, to speak the truth, and to use no wicked words. Although Nathan was a pleasant boy, and a good scholar, and amiable in his disposition and manners, like a great many other amiable children and good scholars, he often said and did what was wrong. But as he had been taught that it was wicked and vulgar to speak falsehood, or to use bad language, he was not often found guilty of such shameful conduct. Yet it appears, from what he once said to his grandmamma, that he sometimes committed even these great sins. However, he was generally very careful about falling into such wicked practices, which other people, as well as God, would see; and some persons supposed that he was an uncommonly good little boy. But his parents, as much as they loved him, think he was like other children,—sometimes obedient to them, true to his word, diligent and faithful, mild and affectionate with his sisters and associates-and sometimes not so. Little Nathan had many friends who loved him very much, and who remember well, now, although he is dead, how he studied his book at school and played at home-and did errands for his parents. But especially his teachers and friends at the Sabbath School, remember his attentive appearance there; and those who had the privilege of visiting his sick chamber and his dying bed, delight to remember how patient he was when suffering, and how happy when expecting to die and go to heaven, and to think upon many things which he said, when they were with him. Of Nathan's thoughts and feelings about religion, before he was five years old, we know very little. He doubtless lived and felt like most boys of his age, who are exposed to the bad influence of others at school, and meet many temptations in the streets to do wrong. When he was about five years old, a gentleman, interested in the Hawkins Street Sabbath School, called upon his mother, and requested her to send her son. The parents cheerfully accepted the invitation, and the next Sabbath, Nathan, for the first time in his life, was a Sabbath School scholar. Previous to this time, he had never attended church on the Sabbath, or any other religious meeting, and we have no reason to think he ever said or thought much about religion. But the instruction which he now began to receive from his Sabbath School teacher, awakened his attention. He became deeply interested in what he heard and learned. His mind was so much occupied in thinking about it, that he appeared differently at home during the week, so that his parents and the neighbors noticed the change. A remark which he made to his mother one day, after returning from school, strikingly illustrates this. The superintendent had addressed the scholars on the necessity of a new heart, in order to please God, and be happy. Nathan, after giving at home an account of the address, added, "and I am sure, mamma, he meant me, for he looked right at me." His fondness for the Sabbath School, and his attachment to the teachers often appeared during the week. If at any time he met in the street the superintendent, or any teacher, he seemed very happy to see him, made his bow and spoke to him, and afterwards told at home, whom he had seen. Often since his death, have different teachers alluded to the pleasant smile with which little Nathan greeted them, whenever they chanced to meet him, out of school. Soon after having entered the Sabbath School, he began to go to Dr. Jenks's meeting, and was there very attentive to the preaching and the prayers. He discovered the same affection for his minister, that he did for his teacher, and in the same way, always telling with great delight at home, if he had met him in the street. He was very careful to remember the instruction he received on the Sabbath, either at meeting or at school, and used often to repeat at home, not only the texts, but what was said by the minister, or by his teacher or superintendent. Sometimes he has, in a most affectionate manner reproved those at home, who said or did anything which was wrong; and when asked how he knew it was wicked has said, "The minister said so, " |