e of us all in order to join you and his dear
daughter, and grandchildren. Every look and every word as is fresh as
yesterday, and his sweet memory will be cherished by Mrs. S. and
myself, and all our children, every one of whom became warmly attached
to him.

"I feel that I am doing that which will re-open the bleeding
wound, but I cannot help it, as my own emotions must have the relief
which this note of sympathy only partially affords. O, how unspeakably
dear to us is the thought of his readiness for the great change, and
that he is now walking those golden streets, and basking in the smiles
of his Saviour. And how consoling the many sweet assurances of our
heavenly Father that he doth not willingly afflict, that all things
work together for good to them that love God, and that as our day is,
so shall our strength be."

In explanation of your grandfather having been a guest of the
gentleman who wrote this letter, and yet a stranger to him, it may be
of interest to you to know, that in the spring of 1859, just before the
return of your dear mother and yourselves to St. Louis, from your
Southern home, he paid a short visit to the city of New York, to attend
to some business for the Mechanics' Bank, which brought him in contact
with Mr. S., "President of the Bank of the Republic," who gave him a
pressing invitation to pass the Sabbath day with him, at his country
seat, on the Hudson river. He accepted the invitation, accompanied his
new made friend on Saturday afternoon, and returned Monday morning; and
was thus made acquainted with a charming family, of whom he several
times spoke in terms of admiration and affection.

A gentleman, residing in the interior of the State of Missouri,
says, in a letter to my brother Taylor: "I cannot in justice to my own
feelings refrain from expressing to you the deep, deep grief I felt at
the loss of our dear friend, Mr. Charless. In all my intercourse with
the world I can safely say that he was the purest and best man I have
ever known. Thousands have lost their best friend, society one of its
brightest ornaments, and his family--Great God, how can their loss be
described. I have been proud for twenty years to claim him as my
friend, and if I had no other reason for thinking well of human nature,
a knowledge of his character would be sufficient. He was a credit to
human nature, and I never, sir, expect to meet his equal again in all
that is essential to make a good and true