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BROMSGROVE LICKEY, Dec. 28th, 1849.

MY DEAR SIR:

I have received your letter with two sovereigns
on Dec. 26. I dare say my young friends will look
for something very good from me, but nothing very
interesting for them at this time. I will tell you
the reason. The last week before Christmas I was
working late and early all the week, and at the
end of the week my foot and hand did ache very
much. In that week I received a letter of young
Mr. Fry, a little school boy, and a beautiful letter
it was. I have read it many a time to the boys and
girls and I had to write him one back again that
week, and a few days before I had to write one to
Mr. Coulton, Superintendent of the Sunday school
at Norwood. For this two or three last years, I have
made a practice in going a carol singing on Christmas
day in the morning and of course they looked
for me again. So I started out at five o'clock and
came home at nine, and then I went to school. I
have never missed going to school on a Sunday for
this last three years. I always like to be there to
teach or to be teached. Now I have got this present
in my hand, it leads me to the Scriptures; and at
the fifty eighth chapter of Isaiah and at the second
verse: "Now they seek me daily and delight to
know my ways as a nation that did righteousness and
forsook not the ordinances of their God." They ask
of me the ordinances of justice, they take delight in
approaching to God. Now if all nations would
act to one another as America does to me, I think
that better day would soon come. When I sat down
to write this letter I thought that I would tell my
young friends how thankful I was to receive their
Christmas present; but my pen is not able to express
nor my tongue is not able to confess it.

My young friends, when Mr. Burritt came to our
house first, we had no Bible, but now we have two.
My father could not read it but your kindness has
teached me to read it and now I have teached my
father to read it, and I am trying to teach my sisters
to read it.

I remain your humble servant, wish to be a fellow
laborer.

JOSIAH BANNER.

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BROMSGROVE LICKEY, Jan. 18th, 1850.

My Dear Young Friends:--I will write you
a few more lines. I have got a very nice cloth coat
and trousers, and I have a s