The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1858-10-28

legc, as you are well aware. During
my course of study there intended
to decide the question whether
should become missionary, ordevott
myself to some calling in my owr
country. II did not become the for.
mer. lhad thought Of no plan in re.
naming here. | felt within myself
that | was not fitted to become an ex,
FOUNDER of gospel faith to the people
of my own land, but that | might be
useful to the benighted pagan, and to.
wards them my heart turned in sym
pathy and pity, and desired to do them
good. But that was not for me-
God did not need me for that work
for had thought he would open to me
the path in which should walk, OF
rather direct the circumstances of my
life, 50 | should understand what was
my duty. When | reached home
found my father in trouble about his
property in the West, Some years
ago he had speculatcd largely in Wes-
tern land, and there was some cons;d-
cradle dispute about the titles to the
different tracts. Part Of it had been
government land, and in regard to
that there was no difficulty, but by far
the greater portion oft had been pur-
chased from those who had settled
and made improvements, claims had
been set up, by different persons, to a
great deal of it, and a thorough in
veStigatIon was necessary, and, prob
abb y, no small amount Of litigation
would be the result, My fathers
health was much too feeble for him to
leave home and endure the bodily IA
liguc and mental harrassing consc-
qucnt upon SO lengthy and vcXatious
an undertaking. HIS other, and Older
son, who lived in your village, was
married and had business OF his own
which he could not well leave; consc-
quenlly was the one, who could well
and properly attend to TO it. Young
as was, my father had great conf
dence in my business powers, for | had
alwas a way Of seeing my course
clearly through before | took step in
any undertaking. 1t became with me,
at once, question OF duty as to
whether ! should go, or not. On the
one hand, my conviction of the iilial
obedience due from cherished son
to the best of fathers, u knowledge
that wealth would very readily ant
easily be accumulated if | was sue,
cesslul in accomplishing the business
as had reason to expect should be
and the good might do anywhere, il
nv heart were right; and on the other
hand. the feeling that | ought to de-
vote my life and its energies in anoth.
cr. hoIicr, higher and more noble pur,
pose than worldly wealth and world
" distinction, and the sacrifice of one
of the cherished desires Of childhood
and youth, thorough collegiate ed
ucaton before | should engage in any
business, profession, or ayocatlon OF
any kind. were the circumstances |
must take into consideration, weigh
ing them wisely and well before COM
ing to an ultimate decision. When |
thought Of my own cherished plans, |
found it exceedingly difficult to re-
Iinqush them; but when looked to
nv father, feeble in health, and ad-
vancing in years, trusting to his son
TO assist him in securing for him the
savings Of lifetime, Cor all his prop
erty except theplace on which he lived
was invested in those lands) | could
not feel that Providence would bless
auy efforts | should make, however
noble. or disintcrcsted they might be,
if should refuse to assist him who
had the best earthly claim upon my
services, when he had such pressing
need for them. Yet it was not with
out quite IA struggle that | made up my
mind to go. The morning before |
started, my father said to me, Henry
this will be perplcxing and vcxa-
tous business. Ii will probably not
all be satisfactorily arranged under
two, or three years. do not wish
your agency in this matter for nothing
You ought to be rewarded, not only
for the actual labor you will perform,
but Tor the sacrifices you are making
on my account, and you shall be-
Half of all the land to which You can
secure an undisputed title shall be
YOURS. am aware of the plans you
have cherished in your own mind for
your future life, and am grateful that
you so readily abandon them at my
desire and for my interest. There is
no one TO whom ! could SO willingly
- ,.,,,rsolf, A coyr