PREFACE.


IN young manhood my father began to keep a
  journal of his life. His purpose was to leave it
for the benefit of his children. He had no idea that
it would ever be published to the world as a book.
Several years ago it became apparent to him that
its publication would be necessary, so that each of
his children might have a copy. Hundreds of oth-
ers, outside of our own family, who had a knowl-
edge of his purpose, urged him to publish his life,
in the belief that it would be beneficial to the world.
He finally consented to do so, and requested the
writer to edit and prepare his papers for publication
after his death. I have endeavored to do this hon-
estly and in the fear of God. I have tried, so far
as the rules of good language would at all tolerate,
to retain the mannerisms of my father. He was a
man of fine natural endowment, and had acquired
much by extensive reading, but was without any
literary training.
   I anticipate two classes of critics. One class
will object to whatever changes I have made, and
the other will fault me for not making more. I
have in DO instance changed the thought of my
father, but only changed the language. I have done
this work amid other heavy labors. To me it has
been a sad but loving task. I prepared the chap-
ter containing his death. If; in it, there shall ap-
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