42 John Bachman. 



July, 1821, the angel of death entered the pastor's 

 bright home, and bore away the darling of the 

 household, Cordelia, aged seven months. It was 

 the first break in the family circle. Three daugh- 

 ters remained to bless the home. The following 

 January the angel of life brought comfort and joy 

 to the hearts of the sorrowing parents. A son was 

 born, and baptized John. The healthy baby throve, 

 was fair and beautiful; five months later (June, 

 1822), after a few days illness, he died, and the 

 second little mound was raised in the cemetery of 

 St. John's. 



In September, 1823, a letter from his sister, Eva, 

 Mrs. Dale, informed him that his father's life was 

 endangered by another stroke of paralysis, and that 

 his mother needed his presence. In haste, he 

 obeyed the summons. 



October 23, 1823. 

 To Mrs. BACHMAN : 



" My poor father's health is precisely as it was 

 when I wrote. It makes me melancholy to leave 

 him in this condition, but it seems to be a duty, as 

 he may continue in this state for a month or two. 

 I shall soon be with you, and a thousand times 

 happier than ever to be at home. Even now as I 

 think of it, I am ready to chide the tardy-gaited 

 hours." * * * * J. B. 



Childhood's memories of the joyous day of his 

 return home have been preserved. The hearty 

 greetings, and rather noisy welcome of the chil- 

 dren. The opening of a barrel of Northern fruit, 



