336 John Bachman. 



finest Winter climate in the world. We all long to 

 hear favorable news of your health. * * * * 



J. B. 



In November, 1857, six of his grandchildren were 

 ill with " Scarlet Fever ; " John HaskelPs case was 

 mild at first, but a relapse brought him to the 

 borders of the grave. His grandfather anxiously 

 watched at his bedside the attendant physician 

 had abandoned all hope of his recovery. John 

 Haskell used to say, in reference to this illness, " My 

 grandfather's prayers brought me back to life." 



To JOHN AUDUBON: 



CHARLESTON, Dec. 17th, 1857. 



" Another year is drawing to a close, how rapidly 

 time flies ! Old reminiscences crowd into my mind. 

 I embrace the leisure of a rainy morning to answer 

 long neglected letters } 7 ours is the first on the list. 



The sick, thank God, are all better. Mrs. Bach- 

 man has gained seven pounds, although she now 

 reaches but seventy-eight pounds the weight of three 

 well fattened old gobblers. HaskelPs children are all 

 in health again. John, who was so very ill, came 

 from the country last week and paid us a visit. 



I have been troubled with dyspepsia, I sleep badly 

 and have night-mare; but I know the cure the 

 country and an ambling pony. So I said last week, 

 1 will go to ' Goose Creek ' and take a hunt, and 

 defy this intruder on my repose. I went, but was called 

 home by a sick parishioner, two hours after I had 

 been in the woods. I was, however, so fortunate as 

 to kill one youn# buck and to wound another, 

 <which I suppose the boys captured. I could not re- 



