noon
They walk too fair for earth that naebody can find fault wi ' . '' So James nursed the evil passion in his own heart ; indeed , he had nursed it so long that he could not of himself resign it , and in all his prayers -- and he did pray frequently , and often sincerely -- he never named this subject to God , never once asked for his counsel or help in the matter . Twelve years after his marriage with Christine David died , died as he had often wished to die , very suddenly . He was well at noon ; at night he had put on the garments of eternal Sabbath . He had but a few moments of consciousness in which to bid farewell to his children . `` Christine , '' he said cheerfully , `` we 'll no be lang parted , dear lassie ; '' and to James a few words on his affairs , and then almost with his last breath , `` James , heed what I say : ` Blessed are the merciful , for they shall -- obtain mercy . ' '' There seemed to have been some prophetic sense in David 's parting words to his daughter , for soon after his death she began to fail rapidly .