■336 John Baclmian. 



finest Winter climate in the world. We all long to 

 hear favorable news of vour health. '^ - - - 



J. B. 



In November, 1857, six of his grandchildren were 

 ill with " Scarlet Fever ; " John Haskell's case was 

 mild at first, but a relapse brought him to the 

 borders of the grave. His grandfather anxiously 

 Avatched at his bedside — the attendant physician 

 had abandoned all hope of his recover}^ 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 — yours 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 — thetveight of three 

 ivell fattened old gobblers. Haskell's 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, 

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

 defji tills intruder on my repose. I Avent, but was called 

 home b}^ a sick parishioner, two hours after I had 

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

 to kill one youn.n: buck and to wound another, 

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



