midnight
The reward hath not perished , and shall not be taken away , though now God calls upon me to leave you . '' He then requested his father to read to him the latter part of the 15th chapter of 1st Corinthians , which he did with a composed and steady voice , amid the silent tears of his children , and the frequent sobs of the almost heart-broken mother , who leant with her face on the bedclothes , holding in hers the emaciated hand of her son . The soul of a mother can only comprehend the depth and the agony of her sufferings at that hour , when called on to part with her last born -- the Benjamin of her small household . In a short time his exhaustion was so great , that his efforts to speak were unavailing , and he fell into a gentle slumber , from which he never awoke -- breathing his soul out upon the silent midnight without a groan ! However much the stroke of death may be expected , it never arrives without a violent shock to the feelings of all around . Here the grief was deep , but it was not upbraiding ; and every pang was tempered by the gentle consolations of Christianity . The mournful news was communicated to the inhabitants of Sauchieburn ; and , amid the regrets of many a grateful parent , bright tears fell from the eyes of childhood , at the thoughts of their kind instructor 's death .