YOUTH 3 



of him: "His wit and mirthfulness made perpetual sun- 

 shine." 



The first account we have of Henry Hill is in a letter of 

 his father to a friend announcing his birth. The quaint 

 humor, mingled with a fervent yet anxious piety, is charm- 

 ing, and will throw a side-light on the character of the man. 



"On the 20th inst. a new missionary joined us. He came 

 without a partner, and without any outfit; and, as is usual 

 with all newcomers, he boards for the present in my family, 

 till he shall become acquainted with the language and cus- 

 toms of the country; so that, what with his entire ignorance, 

 and what with his entire dependence on us for even his 

 ordinary clothing, we are full of business these days. In 

 other words, a week ago yesterday morning, a third son 

 and seventh child was added to my family; and we pray 

 that they all may be like the seven lamps, which burn for- 

 ever before the throne of God. I had looked forward to this 

 event with more than ordinary anxiety, but the Lord was 

 better to us than our fears, and instead of diminishing our 

 numbers hath added thereto; and if Job could say, 'Blessed 

 be the name of the Lord,' how much more should we ! 'He 

 hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us ac- 

 cording to our iniquities.' 



"The children have looked through the whole Old and 

 New Testament, with all history, ancient and modern, 

 for a name, but without success. This, however, is not our 

 greatest trouble. Our principal concern is, that he may 

 have that new name which no man knoweth, save he that 

 receiveth it; and that his name, whatever it may be, 

 may be written in Heaven. May the day of his death be 

 better than the day of his birth ! " 



