TO THE REV. W. H. HAVERGAL, A. M. MY DEAR FRIEND, In sending these sheets to the press, I feel happy that I can gratify my friendship for you. Life may present me with no other similar opportunity; and, therefore, I cannot let this pass unimproved. Your late abode was in the midst of scenes, with which, in my mind, are associated no small number of sacred recollections. Of these, many crowded upon me one starry autumnal evening, two years ago, when we walked together down the vale of S. The visions of memory, indeed, resemble the views which we then caught of the surrounding landscape. Prominent and strongly defined objects alone met the eye, while minuter forms were enveloped in deepening gloom. So oblivion conceals the lesser and more numerous incidents of life, while the light of heaven, or the shades of earth, retain in our remembrance others, too distinctly marked with good or evil, with " -pleasure for pain, to be forgotten. Nor ought they all to be resigned to dumb forgetfulness a prey." The -course of every observant man, through a world like Bours, is attended by events, fraught with more instruction and interest to himself and others, than oshould be lost in the quick succession of passing griefs and joys, and the business of an active life. This consideration has made me resolve to send you a I series of papers, containing a select number of those amemorials, which have sometimes been the topics nof our familiar conversation, before they are wholly Lerased from my memory. „tasqeih vd The larger portion of these will be brief sketches of ather characters of the dead; and chiefly of persons who lived and died in the privacy of domestic scenes, Fortineindigent obscurity; but in whose short history may be read some instructive pages from the book of divine providence, and many illustrations of the power of religion in life and death. From motives of prudence and delicacy, I shall withhold names. You may, however, fully rely on the authenticity of the narratives. These papers owe their existence to the chamber of affliction—to moments snatched from anxious vigils, near the couch of sickness. The composition and [arrangement of them, beguiled and somewhat sweetgened hours, which else, perhaps, might have been spent in the indulgence of grief, as bitter as unavailing This circumstance will account for, if it does not excuse many inaccuracies, especially in the eye of a friend; and it probably may induce criticism to [x$_al915 spare many a deserved lash.. It will be no mean reward of my pleasurable labour, if its produce meets with your approbation. Stilla I venture to aim higher. The honour of God in his dealings with mankind; the glory of the Saviour in dispensing the riches of his grace; and the spiritual benefit of immortal souls, are often promoted by instruments as intrinsically weak and insignificant as this little volume, Aid me by your prayers, that C may, in some humble degree, attain these most important of all ends; and accept a renewed eassurance, that I continue, as I long have been, o Lo 1. to 29vitoin mor *Your affectionate Friend,^{ JOY .29msn blodds./ THE AUTHOR. |