CHAPTER XVIII.

HIS THIRD VISIT AT THE SOUTH, 1830-1831.

State of his health-Payson-Arrival in Charleston— His situation there-Retrospection on his first marriage, etc.-On college studies-Hebrew-Hermeneutics-Very feeble-Sends for his son-Better-Lectures on history-Returns-Letter from Miss R. Eaton.

We are now to accompany my brother on another southern tour for his health.

New York, Oct. 18, 1830. MY DEAREST COMPANION,-In great mercy, my life has been preserved, and, as I hope, my health a little improved. Journeying in the stage was manifestly beneficial, and by steam-boat, not apparently injurious. I should feel much encouraged with regard to my health, if it were not, that I am taking so much medicine-nine doses a day. Is not this enough to make a well man sick? And yet it does seem to have made a sick man better. I say seem; what the reality is, may be better known a year hence.

New York, Oct. 18, 1830.

MY DEAR DAUGHTER,-My heart has been aching for you for weeks. I have known full well the bitterness of lingering out tedious days in long succession, in painful and continually disappointed hope of letters from far distant friends. You will find it but a melancholy consolation to know, that we have indeed been sick or indisposed. My health seems to have been declining since April. I did less than usual during the first term, and have not heard a single recitation, nor delivered a single lecture, during the second. Within a few weeks I have been taking abundance of medicine. My daily allowance pre

scribed by Dr. W. is three doses of columbo, three of soda, two of a composition of myrrh, sal æratus, aloes, and cinnamon, and one of gum goache, as it is vulgarly called. This course seems to have had a favorable effect thus far. The myrrh, etc., has enabled me to eat beef and oysters pretty copiously, with very little injury; and the go-ache seems to have had a wonderful effect in causing my aches to go from me. I am, therefore, disposed to use the vulgar name. The scientific name is gum guaiacum. It is the gum of lignum vitæ.-Dear daughter, pray for your dying parent, who has recently had much more intimate and realizing intercourse with eternity, than ever before. Have you read Payson's Memoir ? What a man! What a christian! What a minister! This book, I trust, has done me good, if any thing ever did. O that myriads of copies were circulated through our land. If you do not own it already, let me beg of you to procure it as soon as may be, and read it, and lend it, as much as possible. Do tell me somewhat particularly how you like it. You know, I never taught you to fear cherishing and giving an opinion contrary to your father's. What parts do you like best? What parts do you dislike? Though not called to do the work of Payson, you do need his ardor, his humility, his self-crucifixion, his devotedness to God. I have some doubt, whether our country has witnessed his equal since the blessed Edwards ascended to glory. His volume of sermons is probably the best in our language. O for a thousand Paysons! And yet ten thousand Paysons could never convert nor edify a single soul, without the Almighty Spirit. And yet ten thousand Paysons would certainly so labor and pray, that the Spirit would take possession of every heart on earth in a very few years. My dear sisterchild, pray, plead, wrestle, agonize that your brothers may be such, and more. If I had ten sons, I should rejoice exceedingly to have them all good ministers. But a wicked minister is the curse of all curses.

I am now fleeing for life and health-attempting to make my escape from the rigors of a N. E. winter-to take refuge in that dear hospitable city, Charleston, S. C. I expect to sail from this city (N. Y.) in three or four days. Notwithstanding my neglect, which I cannot wholly justify, may I not hope that you will write immediately, that your letter may meet me at Charleston. If your eyes

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are unequal to the task, employ the hand of a friend. I will gladly give twenty-five cents for ten lines with your signature at the bottom.

New York, Oct. 22, 1830.

MY DEAR SON L.-What reason have you to be thankful for bodily strength. My son, take heed, that you never despise, nor seem to despise, "perfections, that are placed in bones and nerves.' It is true, these are not heaven, nor spiritual life, nor intellectual riches; but they may have an important connection with all these. I am now convinced, that moderate exercise is much better than entire rest immediately after eating-that I should exercise most vigorously about two hours after a meal. But a good rule for me, may be a bad one for you. Try, and judge for yourself, and learn to vary, as circumstances may vary. But I hardly need to tell you, that it is ten thousand times better-infinitely better, to be a babe in Christ, with all my infirmities of body and ten times more, than to be a giant in iniquity, with the strength of Samson. Let me entreat you to pray daily for your father's health, especially for the health of his soul.

It is very doubtful whether we shall ever have another opportunity to unite in conversing and praying together in the present world. Be it our daily prayer, our unceasing effort, that we may enjoy a sweeter communion, a nobler worship above. You cannot easily imagine, how much I am gratified, that you are so much interested and pleased with Payson's Memoir. Do tell me if you find any thing exceptionable in this excellent book, or the wonderful man of whom it treats. I am far enough from wishing you to be a carping, captious critic; but I do wish that you may be enabled easily, clearly and decidedly to distinguish between the precious and the vile-to take the good and cast the bad away. If there is any thing bad in connection with what is most excellent, we are in the greatest danger of receiving it. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Payson's Sermons, too, are a treasure; perhaps the best volume of sermons in print. I wish if convenient that you may read one of them every week, most devoutly and attentively, at least till you have read them twice through. Such reading will increase your intellectual riches; it will be health to your rhetoric, health to your logic, and I trust health to your spirit.

Charleston, Nov. 3, 1830.

BELOVED PARENTS AND SISTERS,-In great mercy, I have been brought once more, to this hospitable and healthrestoring city. Wonderful indeed have been the favors, which a kind Providence has shown me, since I left Bradford, especially those relating to my journeyings by land and sea. I find myself here apparently in much better health, and much more favorably situated, than I had dared to expect. My sister R. Eaton, engaged here in a school, having hired a house, etc., with abundance of room for me and my books, was kind enough, about four weeks ago, to invite me to spend the winter with her. I am better accommodated than I could expect to be at any boarding house. Near the centre of a square, I am more retired than could well be supposed, in the midst of such a city. Dr. M'D., who with his wife lately made me a visit of three or four days at W., is my nearest neighbor. You can hardly imagine how much I rejoice in being so near him. His study and mine, which are both separate buildings, are within two feet of each other. I am peculi arly favored with the comforts of life that seem most conducive to my restoration and strength. For these, and many other favors, both temporal and spiritual, I desire to render most humble and hearty thanks. But still my joy is not full; nor my blessings without great trials. I am far away from my beloved family, doubting in some degree whether I shall ever see one of them again on this side the grave. And my dear, dear Rebecca! my heart aches for her from day to day. Subjected to temporary widowhood, which may prove permanent, what cares, what toils, what distressing burdens, are falling to her lot! May she find the grace of Christ sufficient for her.

I arrived here four days ago, after a short passage from New York, whither I had come by stage and steam boat. So far from being sea-sick, I was able to take my full allowance of beef, oysters, etc., every day, and to read more during those six days than the twenty preceding. I believe my sea-sickness was prevented by the medicine which Dr. W. prescribed; at least that this was part of the cause. The passage was uncommonly smooth. I believe not so much as a tumbler or a plate started from its place by the motion of the vessel. I should like to have this medicine tried by others who go to sea. I cannot but think, that

in many cases it might prevent or mitigate the horrors of sea-sickness.

Charleston, S. C., Dec. 1, 1830.

MY HONORED FATHER, [Mr. Eaton,]-You know that my health has always been rather feeble, and that for several years I have been more especially beset with infirmities. It was my solemn expectation, that long, long ago, I should have been called to the world of retribution. And strange indeed does my continuance appear. Through how many dangers, and difficulties, and trials, has my feeble life been preserved. For nearly a year and a half, my diseases, three or four in number, seem to have been more alarming; and more than once have I viewed myself on the very brink of the grave. Last summer, having ridden two hundred miles for my health, under circumstances peculiarly favorable, I found myself much worse, and to appearance, rapidly sinking. It was indeed most deeply discouraging, that the best remedy I had ever used, should seem only to aggravate my complaints. I was then at Bradford, where my friends persuaded me to put myself under the care of Dr. W. There I staid more than a fortnight, and by his means, my diseases seemed to be in some measure checked. Returning to Wethersfield, I concluded, that the danger of continuing at home, would probably be greater than that of migration. Soon after forming this conclusion, I received a most kind and generous invitation from Rebecca, to come and take up my winter quarters with her, in this dear city of refuge. This invitation was as comforting as it was unexpected. It comforted me all the way on my passage, and here I have been taking comfort ever since. For my study, (for I feel as though I could hardly live without studying some,) I have a spacious and delightful chamber. Here I am surrounded by about three hundred of my books, which make it seem almost like my own house. Here your daughter seems gratified to do every thing in her power for my convenience and health.

And now I feel that I have greater reason than ever to bless God, that he ever sent me to Framingham, and united me to your family by an alliance, to me so precious and endearing. Nor was I disappointed in what I had anticipated as the choicest boon of heaven. Surely a