An Old Friend. 410 



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

 Muller's, *' Chips from o, German Workshop,'' which I 

 am reading with deep interest. 



It gives me joy to hear that j^our 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, but 

 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 veri/ hard, for more will be required of me. 

 Aunt Julia B. tells me that I have wliat ^hc calls 

 the Bachman 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, Joiix. \ 



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. 



CiTAiu.ESTOX, 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. 



