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mourning, season: not that he felt the pecuniary loss so much: for that was never his disposition: but so strong & earnest were his attachments.
John had been taught from earliest childhood to “fear God & keep his commandments;” & though quite skeptical he had always by turns felt much serious doubt as to his future well being; & about this time became to some extent a convert to Christianity & ever after a firm believer in the divine authenticity of the Bible.1 With this book he became very familiar, & possessed a most unusual memory of its entire contents.
Now some of the things I have been telling of; were just such as I would recommend to you: & I wd like to know that you had selected these out; & adopted them as part of your own plan of life; & I wish you to have some definite plan. Many seem to have none; & others never stick to any that they do form.
This was not the case with John.
He followed up with tenacity whatever he set about so long as it answered his general purpose: & hence he rarely failed in some good degree to effect the things he undertook.
This was so much the case that he habitually expected to succeed in his undertakings.
With this feeling should be coupled; the consciousness that our plans are right in themselves.
During the period I have named John had acquired a kind of ownership to certain animals of some little
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1 He joined the Congregational church in Hudson, Ohio, at the age of sixteen. Ten years later, on moving to Pennsylvania, he transferred his membership to the Presbyterian church, with which he remained connected till the day of his martyrdom.
Thayer and Eldridge, 1860.
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