The Wound of a Friend. 331 



affections, founded on intelligence and worth, are 

 perennial. Like pure streams flowing through the 

 valleys, they widen and deepen until they are puri- 

 fied and perpetuated in the wide ocean of eternity. 



J. B." 



Copy of leaf dedicatory in " I Vood's United States 

 Dispensatory." 



My Dear Wife If I supposed that you were 

 fond of finery, I might have given you a silk dress, 

 or a Cashmere shawl which you fully merit ; if 

 emulous of articles of taste and extravagance, I 

 would have selected books of engravings in gilded 

 and embossed binding. But, as your tastes are sim- 

 ple, practical and economical, allow me to present 

 you with a good family book, full of knowledge and 

 calculated for daily use. 



Your devoted husband, J. B." 



DEC. 25th, 1855. 



We have alluded to the mirth-provoking rhymes 

 that were frequently placed on the Pastor's plate at 

 table. These compositions were written at the insti- 

 gation of the younger members of the family Mrs. 

 Bachman was generally the composer. If the hits 

 were too hard, the Pastor's blank verse was always 

 ready at hand. He would laugh and say, " In my 

 youth I indulged in writing poetry, and sent my 

 early effusions to the village newspaper for publi- 

 cation. Then I waited, with no little interest and 

 curiosit}^, for the comments and criticism that were 

 sure to follow. One day I drew out a remark from 

 a gentleman whose opinion I valued on this subject. 

 Pointing to the paper, I said : ' What do you think 



