HIS CHILDHOOD AND EARLY HOME. 17 



For our early religious training we were indebted chiefly 

 to our mother. She taught us prayers and hymns, and 

 every morning heard us read in the Bible and other relig- 

 ious books adapted to our age. In mild weather we usually 

 resorted to the parlor-chamber, the best chamber in the 

 house, which was also reserved for our guests. Here, while 

 our mother combed the hair and adjusted the dress of one, 

 the other read or recited passages of Scripture or hymns 

 and sacred poetry. Our mother also gave us the best ad- 

 vice and instructions from her own lips. These opportu- 

 nities were precious, and were repeated in other places of 

 retirement, as was convenient. I still possess the large folio 

 Bible which was my father's, London edition of 1759, 

 one hundred and three years old. It was printed on beau- 

 tiful paper, with a clear good type, and was fully illustrated 

 by engravings of Bible scenes, and by maps and plans. In 

 the settlement of my father's estate, this Bible went out of 

 the family and was carelessly used. A few years ago I 

 bought it back and had it put in order : the text is all per- 

 fect ; the prints and maps are all preserved ; and those 

 works of art which were the admiration of us children, 

 now in my old age bring back very interesting reminis- 

 cences, and always of our blessed mother. Our father, as I 

 have said, was a decidedly religious man, without austerity, 

 and was a strict observer of the Sabbath, and of all the laws 

 of morals and religion. Although he was much engrossed 

 by public and private duties, and therefore left our religious 

 training chiefly to our mother, his daily life shed a holy 

 influence over the family. Thus we breathed in a religious 

 atmosphere, and our sentiments and manners were influ- 

 enced and formed by a Christian standard of thought and 

 action. 



The Assembly's Catechism was in those days taught, not 

 only in the schools, but was recited by question and answer 

 in the families of religious people, especially of the Con- 

 gregational and Presbyterian denominations. It is indeed 



VOL. I. 2 



