e said, without doubt, he had), I cared for nothing better than
to begin life afresh, with such a husband as I had, with health, youth,
business capacity, and a good reputation.

This conversation was not without effect; and he determined, by
way of recruiting, to "knock off" from business, and to make an
excursion into the country. This little trip--which was not simply
without aim, other than for his health, as he had some business to
attend to on the way--acted like a charm, by restoring his wasted
energies and his cheerfulness. He returned, in ten or fifteen days,
more like himself than he had been for months. After this, he soon
recovered entirely; and never again did he lose his equanimity for
more, perhaps, than a day or two at a time, although the dreaded blow
did come, but not before he had taken a step in the divine life, which
served to buoy him up above the ills of this checkered existence.

During the year 1839, about five years after we became members of
the Church, your grandfather was ordained "Ruling Elder" in the Second
Presbyterian church. We united with the "First Presbyterian church"
(which I believe, I told you in a previous letter), which was then the
only one in the city, but were induced, from a sense of duty, to go
out, with a few others, to assist in strengthening a small colony that
had been struggling for existence almost from the time it had left the
mother church, some two or three years previous. In the building up of
this church he was one of its most efficient agents. Besides having
the duties of an Elder to perform, he was appointed a Trustee, and,
with others, was very active in planning, and carrying forward to its
completion, a large and expensive building, bearing a heavy part of the
debt of it for years, until the means were provided for his relief,
which was not until long after he had met with heavy pecuniary losses.
He was regularly in his place at all the meetings of the church, both
for spiritual and secular purposes.

Now, my dear children, if you have conceived an idea, from the
insight I have given you, of the numerous occupations of your
grandfather, that he must have been bustling about, having so much to
do--hurrying things at home, and having no time for pleasure or
recreation--you are greatly mistaken. A day rarely passed that he did
not take a ride with his family, or some member of it, to "the farm,"
(except during the period of his ill health, when he ofte