CARDINAL NEWMAN AND GENERAL GO ED ON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 12, 10 July 1885, Page 21

CARDINAL NEWMAN AND GENERAL GO ED ON.

The Weehhfjtegitter says :-" The readers of Mr. Prank Power's letters from Khartoum may be interested to know that a curious little relic linking the name of the late Times correspondent with that of the hero of the Soudan, General Gordon, has reached Dublin, in the form of a tiny book, a duodecimo copy of Cardinal Newman's ' Dream of Gerontius,' with handwriting and marks inside. On the fly-leaf is an inscription : — ' Frank Power, with kindest regards of 0. G. Gordon. 18 Feb. '81,' and lower, across the same page :— ' Dearest M , I send y6u this little book which General Gordon bas given me. Thepencil marking throughout the* book is his. Frank Power, Khartoum.' The book has been forwarded to Mr. Power's sister, for whom this affectionate remembrance had destined the precious souvenir. The deep incisive pencil-marks drawn under certain lines, almost all of which name death, and cry {for the prayers of friends, are touchingly interesting to see. ' Pray for me, Omy friends?' 'Tis death — O loving frieade, your prayers— 'tis he I" "So pray for me, my friends, who have not strength to pray !' ' Use well the interval I' Prepare to meet thy God 1' ' Now, that the hour is come, my fear is fled :' with many other longer passages all bearing on the supreme moment at hand. The last words underlined before he gave the book to poor young Power are these :—: — • Farewell, bub not for ever, brother dear : Be brave and patient on tby bed of sorrow 1' The latest touch of interest is given to this memorable incident by a letter written by Cardinal Newman to Mr. Power's sister, who had sect the tiny well-thumbed volume to the author of the " Dream of Gerontius.' Cardinal Newman writes : — ' Your letter and its contents took away my breath. I was deeply moved to find that a book of mine had been in General Gordon's hands, and that, the description of a soul preparing for death. I send it back to you, with my heartfelt thanks, by this post, in a registered cover. It is additionally precious as having Mr. Power's writing in it.' "