A Wedding Gift. 207 



We are looking out for John, and shall be most 

 glad to see him. 



Send your bill for the work subscribed for by 

 " Charleston Library Societ} 7 ." 



Now I shall entrust you all with a secret. Your 

 Aunt Maria has been weak enough to consent to 

 take the old man, with all his infirmities of mind 

 and eyes, for better and for worse, and thus lawfully 

 become his nurse and scribe, on December 28th, so 

 please demean yourself accordingly, and acknowl- 

 edge with me that she is so amiable and good-tem- 

 pered, that she will not scratch out the poor remnant 

 of my eyes left to me. 



With love to all and congratulations of the season, 



Affectionately yours, 



J. B. 



FOU^D ON THE FLY-LEAF OF AN OLD BOOK. 

 To MRS. BACHMAN : 



My Beloved Maria : The presentation of a 

 Cookery book from a husband to his bride, does not, 

 at first, appear to evidence much of that sensibility 

 and romance, which such an occasion would seem 

 to inspire. I, however, send you this little book, not 

 to remind you either of your duty as a good house- 

 keeper for of that I have already had satisfactory 

 experience, or of my appetite for luxuries for this 

 I ought not to encourage ; but, as I once heard you 

 remark that you would like to own this book, I send 

 it as an evidence that I shall ever be disposed to 

 devote myself to yon, and to comply with your least 

 wish. 



JOHN, BACHMAN. 



December 28th, 1848. 



