Buchanan County bulletin and guardian., 1868-08-07


CINCNxArI, July l4th, 1865.
DEAR RgGrsrER AFTER . series Of vexa>
tons and delays which were unavoidable.
but which termen,ed my soul into several
panics end paroIisms, my book" The Val.
lev aud Shadow"--hss II last made its sp>
pearsncs. lcsnRot stop here to speak Of
the many Disadvantages under which ! la
bored, in the preparation Of ihis volume. 1t
y sufficient 10 say that every step Of progress
YES attended 9Th physical pain, and with
unspcskxbls solicituds, With reference 20 the
pscuniary results Of the enterprise. ! re-
gardsd il - the final effort Of nv life 10 save
my family, in the DARK years of the future,
from that kind Of want which pleads for
bsead vhsrewnh 10 support existence. In
the midst OF ore Of the greatest calamities
which could have desolated nv heart, aud
ruined my prospects, conceived it TO be q
sacred duty from which there could be no
release, to do something which might give
support TO my wife aud children, when the
husband and father had passed to his place
among the dead. know that my book has
many faults. both in conception aud litera>
~ execution asd would TO God that every
lite ia il which contains reflection against
sny being on the earth, were wholly obiter-
ated. Such, however, ~ the character of
the book may be, send it out on its MISS
ION to the world, and beg with the earnest>
ness of passionate entresiy, that criticism
shall deal gently with it and that the friends
it, - the only inheritance which 10 my blind
ness, ! shall be able 10 leave my child
rem.
Il 10 proper 70 state, l think, that this edi.
ton Of the book being stereotyped. is costing
more than 1000. The simple item Of ex>
press charges, almost tewilders me with its
magnitude. Out Of 1855 received from va
rious friends, 5000 Of which came in ad>
vance, paid subscriptions. from Mrs. West,
Of Dee Moines, aud others, have paid be-
tween $500 and 500 to my printers, and
supported my family, since November last.
Ii shall realize 81 800 from the sale Of the
fret edition--and thar is more than | can
possibly hope-I will be able TO pay Off the
debt which remains due to the printers and
then, haviag supplied with books those sub
scvibess who have paid in advance. ! will
still have little margin lsft to divide be-
tween myself and my general agents. lam
thus explicit in these statements because |
believe there is public desire to know how
the matter stands. Ii my health, which
ses ms 10 be hopelessly prossra,ed from ex.
cess Of pain, during the las, two years, would
permit me to canvass in person, in connec-
lion with my excellent agent, Mr.. Doughty,
| would be able 10 get off the first edition
and secure second one, in the course Of q
few weeks. Although am keeping up a
brave heart while ! am CROPPING through the
everlasting darkness that surrounds me by
day and by night, ! cannot disguise from
myself the fact that my first edition may be
the last one, in consequence Of inability TO
pay of the printers claim.
1t is my purpose to place a copy OF my
book in every newspaper Office in Iowa but
l trust ,ha, my brethren OF the press will not
rebuke me. If shall be little tardy in get
ting around with all Of them. Iflarge bod
les move slowly, blind EXHIBITOR ought to
have the same privilege.
Yours truly,
j. N. Dixon.