I
went to see her, after her brother's death; but her frequent illnesses did
not render visits at all times welcome or feasible. She then resided in
Alpha Road, Saint John's Wood, under the care of an experienced nurse.
There was a twilight of consciousness in her,--scarcely more,--at times;
so that perhaps the mercy of God saved her from full knowledge of her
great loss. Charles, who had given up all his days for her protection and
benefit,--who had fought the great battle of life so nobly,--left her "for
that unknown and silent shore," where, it is hoped, the brother and sister
will renew the love which once united them on earth, and made their lives
holy. Mary Lamb died on the 2Oth May, 1847; and the brother and sister now
lie near each other (in the same grave) in the churchyard of Edmonton, in
Middlesex.
[1] This, with a small variation, is given in Mr. Thomas Moore's
autobiography. I suppose I must have repeated it to him, and that he
forgot the precise words.
[2] I fear that I have not, in all the foregoing instances, set forth with
sufficient precision the grounds or premises upon which the jests were
founded. There were, moreover, various other sayings of Lamb, which do not
come into the above catalogue; as where--when enjoying a pipe with Dr.
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