Abel travelled by sled to visit his fiancee again in Froland for Christmas 1828. He became seriously ill on the sled journey and despite an improvement which allowed them to enjoy Christmas, he soon became very seriously ill again. Crelle wwas told and he redoubled his efforts to obtain an appointment for Abe; in Berlin. He succeeded and wrote to Abel on the 8 April 1829 to tell him the good news. It was too late, Abel had already died. Ore describes his last few days:-
…the weakness and cough increased and he could remain out of bed only the few minutes while it was being made. Sometimes he lived in the past, talking about his poverty and about Fru Hansteen’s goodness. Always he wasa kind and patient…..