left hand know what thy right hand doeth" was no difficult task
for one who, alone conscious of his "many infirmities," was kept truly
humble before the eye of the heart-searching God. His humility was his
crowning virtue. It adorned all the rest, and gave a certain kind of
grace, even to his greatest faults.

Affectionately yours, GRANDMA.

Letter Twelve

My Dear Grandchildren:

In this simple sketch of the life of an unpretending Christian
man, whose highest aim was to discharge his duties, as such, in the
position in which God had placed him, I am aware there is nothing
particularly interesting, or congenial, to the feelings or taste of the
worldling. By "the worldling" I mean a man, or woman, who--perhaps
without deliberately weighing things as they exist, and regardless of
the future--is content with the short-lived pleasures and advantages
of this world. But I cannot better describe the worldling than in the
language of your grandfather, taken from a letter which lies open
before me. In speaking of a certain lady who expressed to him a regret
that she had not fifty thousand dollars per annum to spend in living,
he says: "She is a poor, worldly woman, whose chief end in life is to
dash!--shine, and out-shine--consequently envies those who have more
means, or appear to out-shine her. I would not swap my old woman for
as many of such as could stand between this and Mobile, and the fifty
thousand per annum in the bargain!" To such among you (God forbid that
there should be such!) I do not write; for I know how the world blinds
by its dazzle, and you could see no beauty or use in living for the
glory of that Being who made and preserves you, and before whom you
must stand to be judged. Made in His image, with an immortal soul, you
might dwell forever with the Redeemer, in the mansions he has gone to
prepare. But, like the butterfly, you fritter away your earthly
existence, and, by so doing, throw away the only cup of real,
unadulterated pleasure of this present life; and, when Time, with all
its fleeting joys, has passed away forever, where, oh, where! do you
expect to dwell?

But for those who are the worthy descendants of him who lived the
life of the righteous, and who find pleasure in reading these imperfect
letters, I will recommence a review of the past, recording, as I have
done, such facts as I think will interest you, and acquaint you still
better with him. You have seen his Ch