Year: 1870

FRIEND SAwYER:-


Dropping into the Briggs house the
other evening who should meet but
our old friend Charley 8. of Trenton,
hale and full Of life as ever. It was so
long since my eyes had looked upon
the countenance of . genuine down
easter fresh from the native hills of
Maine, that the way this old chum was,
for two long hours, sounded for news
from those genial old shores, must have
proved, to him, that we possessed the
peculiar qualities for making a flrst class
''bore." Things new and old, and
strange as new were brought to light,
which led our wandering memories
back again to times and scenes of other
days. Among the facts called from my
friend, as strange as it was q matter of
plcasurable surprise to me, was the
information that nv former Pastor Rev.
Joel Wheelerhad taken up his residence
in East Trenton, and was actively en-.
gagged in the work of the ministry in
that vicinity. For long time / had
lost sight of this truly good man, and
had wondered, in my own mind, again
and again what could have become Of
him. AT last there he is by the eastern
shores, where, when but rustic boy,
we gamboled away the hours of child
hood while we have wandered wester-
ward and have come to deal with the
realities Of life amid the scenes which,
in those days, constituted the active
| field of his ministerial labors. 1t almost
seems sometimes as though men, like
the birds, were mere beings "of pas
sage


But, friend 5. do you know thi. Rev.
Joel Wheeler? n not. let me beg of
YOU TO make his acquaintance Heis
truly one of natures noblemen,-ag great
and truly good man. Unassuming and
retiring in his habits and disposition;
close student; an earnest and devoted
christian gentleman, whose highest am
bition it ever has been to serve faith
fully the cause to which he is so de-
/ votedly, attached. No man stood
\ higher in his profession, nor in the
/ private walks OF lite during his ministry
here, than Mr.. Wheeler. Indeed, it il
not too much to say that, he was uni-
versally beloved and respected by all
who knew him. Possessed of an ample
/ fortune, his charities were ever fully
commensurate with his means. His
activity and zeal in every good work,
rendered him special object of love
with all true and good men of whatever
religious pursuasion.


I Through his energy and devotion
many societies were organized, that
have since become powerful agencies
for good i'll the West. And over any
I OF these he could have been most will
ingly settled upon an ample salary,
surrounded by old time friends whose
highest delight it would have been to
continue towards him in the future as
they had in the past, their liveliest SYM
pathics. They knew his nobility, his
worth, his manliness of character, his
devotion TO his work, and christian
integrity. And what could ever have
/ possessed him to leave the scenes of
his former labors TO cut loose from ties
of friendship so devoted; to sunder his
pastoral relations amid scenes that
/ L
break from associations so promising of
genuine happiness, is to us passing
strange. Surely no selfish motive
could have prompted his action, for
here in the West, all his surroundings
were Of the most pleasant and satisfac-
tory character. Nothing but the deep
love he has for the work of the ministry,
can sufficiently explain his removal
from the midst of SO much that must
have rendered his stay agreeable amid
the scenes OF his former labors.


He is one of the few the West can i'll
afford to lose. But in our loss you
have gained great and good man,
who will make his influence felt for
good in Your midst.


Rest assured friend 5. YOU will find in
Rev. Mr.. Wheeler a man whose acquain-
tance it will pay to cultivate, and whose
friendship once really won, will prove
a enduring and unsclfish as the ever
lasting hills.


Since have broken the ice, in the
times coming YOU may hear from me
again.


Truly yours,


j. l.. B.