association, shall have been found by the governor and council to be, as far as practicable in such works, faithfully, impartially, and accurately prepared, historically correct, to contain matter not otherwise conveniently accessible, and of sufficient reliability and importance to justify this patronage; provided, that in case the history of the regiment of the three years' term or longer as actually published, cannot be obtained at the prices aforesaid on account of historical matter necessarily contained therein, the governor and council may authorize the secretary of state to purchase the same for the purposes aforesaid at such prices as they may deem just between the parties.

(Approved October 21, 1887.)

(LAWS OF 1889, CHAPTER 128.)

JOINT RESOLUTION relating to histories of New Hampshire organizations in the War of the Rebellion.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

SECTION 1. The provisions of the joint resolution in relation to the purchase of the histories of military organizations of this state in the ate war, approved October 21, 1887, shall also include and be applicable to like works relating to or prepared for the First Light Battery, the Sharpshooters, the Naval Contingent from this state, and the representation from this state in the regular army; provided, that the history of each of these sèveral divisions of the New Hampshire men serving in the War of the Rebellion shall not require more than one volume.

SECT. 2. The secretary of state is authorized to procure in accordance with the provisions of said joint resolution of 1887, and in addition to the number therein mentioned, fifty copies of each of said histories, to be placed in the state libraries of other states, and in the libraries of the principal cities of other states, or exchanged for similar works, in order that records of the part taken in the War of the Rebellion by New Hampshire organizations may be equally accessible with other similar works at the capitals of the country.

(Approved August 16, 1889.)

(LAWS OF 1891, CHAPTER 14.)

AN ACT in aid of the public libraries of this state.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

SECTION 1. The secretary of state shall procure and furnish to each public library in this state, and the Soldiers' Home, one copy of each history of New Hampshire organizations in the War of the Rebellion which is not out of print, and has been or may be hereafter published in accordance with the provisions of existing laws.

SECT. 2. This act shall be in aid of only such libraries as are regularly open for the use of the public in the towns and cities where they may be located, and which are duly designated as public libraries entitled to receive state publications by the governor and council, in accordance with existing laws on the first day of February next following the publication of such history.

SECT. 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage. (Approved March 12, 1891.)

(Laws of 1885, CHAPTER 120.)

JOINT RESOLUTION in relation to the duties of the adjutantgeneral. Two hundred dollars conditionally appropriated for making abstracts of military records.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

That the adjutant-general is hereby authorized to prepare abstracts from the records of his office for the use of any persons actually engaged in the preparation of histories of regiments or other military organizations, or the military history of towns in this state; and for such clerical assistance as may be necessary to enable him to perform said duties, he shall be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, upon due warrant of the governor; provided, that such abstracts shall not be required under this resolution unless the preparation of such histories shall have been authorized by vote of the town or city or veteran association to which it particularly relates; and further provided, that the expense for clerk hire shall in no case exceed two hundred dollars in any one year.

(Approved August 13, 1885.)

(CHAPTER 120, LAWS OF 1891.)

JOINT RESOLUTION relating to the collection of pictures and portraits illustrative of the part taken by this state in the War of the Rebellion.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

That the sum of one hundred dollars is hereby annually appropriated to be expended by the adjutant-general, under the direction of the governor and council, to procure photographs and other illustrations of the part taken by this state in the War of the Rebellion, to be preserved and exhibited in the state house.

(Approved April 11, 1891.)

(CHAPTER 45, LAWS OF 1895)

AN ACT in amendment of chapter 14 of the Laws of 1891, relating to free public libraries.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

SECTION 1. The authority given the governor and council and secretary of state with reference to furnishing regimental histories to free public libraries and other recipients designated by law, shall include the histories of the New Hampshire contingent in the organization of sharpshooters, the New Hampshire batteries, the organization designated as the Seventeenth Regiment of Infantry, the service of the New Hampshire men in the medical department, and the services of those commissioned and acting as chaplains in the War of the Rebellion; provided, the regular veteran association of those organizations or classes in the service shall approve of the works as published, and compliance shall be made with all other provisions of law relating to such publications.

SECT. 2. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed, and this act shall take effect upon its passage.

(Approved March 19, 1895.)

CHAPTER XXXIX.

ELDER JOHN G. HOOK.

(Contributed.)

Elder John G. Hook and his good wife had what they were wont to term a victualling place" on the bluff near Camp Ethan Colby, and supplied the members of the Seventeenth Regiment with pies, cakes, and delicacies which were not included in the army rations. They also ministered tenderly to the sick in the camp, and interested themselves in many ways in the welfare of the soldier boys. The house which was then their headquarters is standing, and is much the same as when it sheltered them in the days when the men of the Seventeenth were near neighbors and frequent visitors, but the Hook residence for many years has been in another portion of the city. Mrs. Hook has gone to her reward, but the venerable elder is still able to carry on the work in which he has been engaged fifty-six years,—preaching the religion of Jesus Christ as he understands it, after his own fashion, giving comfort to the sorrowing, and pointing out to those who might grope darkly to the end but for his simple, earnest pleading, a way to a better life.

Fifty-six years a preacher without parish or salary! Such is the unique record of one of the most unique figures in the religious work of his day and generation. To an inquiry as to how he had been able to support himself and his family these many years, when his service had been so largely one of unrecompensed endeavor, the elder made answer: "I have earned my living with my hands, while I

was doing my Master's bidding." Those familiar with the home life of Mr. and Mrs. Hook know that not only has their store been equal to their own necessities, but that there has always been enough and to spare for those less fortunate than themselves. No brighter chapter in the life

of Elder Hook could be written than the one which should enumerate his acts of charity and generosity, unobtrusive and unremitting. The Hon. Henry Robinson wrote of Elder Hook in a newspaper article a few years since: "Of his life here in our own city of Concord, where he has resided for forty years, it may be said safely that no resident has been more generous with his hospitality, and more openhearted in his sympathies. He and his lovely wife kept open house, and nobody, black or white, drunk or sober, rich or poor, high or low, was ever turned away from Elder John's door. The ragged have been clothed, the hungry fed, and he has visited the sick and the imprisoned."

But fifty-six years a preacher without parish or salary by no means implies that congregations have been wanting. Indeed, it has been the privilege of few of Elder Hook's contemporaries to proclaim the gospel in more widely separated sections, among more diversified surroundings, or under more interesting conditions. Two hundred thousand miles is probably not an exaggeration