Family Training. J 49 



to me — but awfully soaked with salt water. They, 

 however, enabled me to judge what they are. * * 

 All join me in best wishes. 



Your friend, 



J. B. 



John W. Audubon and Maria R. Bachman, were 

 united in marriage in 1837. They joined the rest of 

 the Audubon family in New York, and in August 

 sailed in a packet ship, bound for Liverpool. It 

 was only after a long and tedious voyage, that thev 

 reached their destination. 



This first break in the Pastor's family circle weighed 

 heavily on the parents' hearts. Bachman wrote to 

 Audubon, " I have looked forward to this event 

 very much as a man does to a funeral." Rapid 

 ocean transit, the cablegram, etc., have now brought 

 the land beyond the Atlantic comparatively near to 

 us. Fifty years ago it was far different. 



We have had already glimpses into the parson- 

 age. Maria, the eldest daughter, at the time of her 

 marriage was twenty years of age, and Eliza, the 

 second daughter, nearly nineteen. There were? 

 besides, five younger daughters and two sons — in all, 

 nine living — and five in God's acre. 



The pastor of St. John's believed in faithful, 

 early training and instruction — yet, there were few 

 rules for family government. One we remember — 

 no child absent from morning prayers without an 

 excellent reason, was permitted to sit at the large 

 breakfast-table — the culprit had a seat assigned at a 

 little side-table. By a singular accident, however, if 

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