An Old Friend. 419 



tend to make good use of it. He has lent me Max 

 Muller's, " Chips from a German Workshop" which I 

 am reading with deep interest. 



It gives me joy to hear that your health is 

 improving. I think of you a great deal, and have 

 imagined or dreamed, more than once, that I heard 

 you calling me in the night. 



I have written at Dr. R.'s request, two or three 

 articles for The Lutheran Visitor, and have copied 

 out some old addresses, &c., which, when you read, 

 you will recognize. Dr. R. has encouraged me 

 greatly ; he says that I am a good writer and a 

 sprightly one ; that I am to lay in knowledge and I 

 shall do well. I do not take this as praise, hut 

 simply a truth that God has given me some gifts 

 that I may use in His service if one talent, then I 

 must work hard to make it tell ; if more, I must 

 work very hard, for more will be required of me. 

 Aunt Julia B. tells me that I have what she calls 

 the Bach man characteristic of (knowingly) not 

 troubling myself for the future but trusting; if it 

 be so, I am thankful and glory in the inheritance. 

 Give me your blessing, my grandfather, that it may 

 act on me and re-act on yourself. God is taking 

 good care of us all. 



With much love to you, to the one who reads this 

 to you and to all. 



I am ever, your loving grandson, JOHN. 



To JOHN S. FAKE, ESQ., President of National Ex- 

 change Bank, of Lansington, N. Y. : 

 Mr. Fake's sister had married Dr. Bachman's 



brother, Henry. 



CHARLESTON, Sept. 8th, 1871. 

 My Dear Sir: lam under the impression that 



you and I are almost the only survivors of a large 



congregation and of many tried friendships* 



