and to whom my heart goes out in warmest sympathy; indicating in plainest terms how they, though lacking in this world's transient possessions, may gain the true Heavenly riches, and in peace and happiness enjoy them-Forever! While next to God's own providential aid and guidance, my thanks are due to my wife and daughter and two sons, who have so patiently borne with me through these years of unremunerative toil, and by their kindly forbearance have assisted me in making this production possible, yet I would dedicate it to future generations; trusting that, "As pictures owe their mellow hues to time," so the flight of years may soften those sharp lines of contemporary intolerance, which would relegate to the shades the results of my life effort to demonstrate that between Nature and the Bible there is no conflict. "NON NOBIS SOLUM." "Love thyself last-cherish those hearts that hate thee; Corruption wins not more than honesty: Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace, To silence envious tongues. Be just and fear not: Let all the ends thou aim'st at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, and Truth's; then if thou fall'st, O Cromwell! Thou fall'st a blessed martyr!" Shakspeare. REMINISCENCES AND REVERIES. CHAPTER I. NATURALLY they who in the coming years may take up this volume, will wish to know more than is disclosed by the treatment of the subject proper, of the man who preferred to brook scholastic disfavor in his day, that the truth might be declared; hence my decision to attempt such a brief account of my personal affairs, and my earlier connection with this work, as may not justly expose me to the charge of egotism, and yet satisfy the reader of the future. MY ANCESTORS. A few years before the Anglo-American war of 1775-83, a young wedded couple of Holland Dutch descent, but American born, purchased a considerable tract of land, and hewed out for themselves a rude home in the primeval forest, at a point situated in the present rural township of Columbia, in the county of Herkimer, and state of New York U. S. A., seven miles north of the famous watering place and pleasant summer resort of Richfield Springs. That couple was Henry and Eva Miller, my grandparents on the paternal side. Possessing an abundance of hope and vigor, they had the satisfaction of seeing the little clearing around their home grow larger each year, as the forest retreated before the stalwart husband's ax, while the wife invested their humble dwelling with those simple home charms which, where contentment is, transform the hut into a palace. In this silvan retreat children were born, to augment both the happiness and the care of my worthy ancestors; other settlements were springing up around them, the few natives, or Indians in the vicinity continued friendly, and they looked forward to a life of peace and prosperity. But in the midst of this tranquility, there was borne to them on the eastern breeze the clarion notes of war, heralding an open rupture at last, of the strained relations long existing between the colonies and the mother country; and fleet-mounted couriers came darting through the settlements, calling the sturdy yeomanry to haste to their country's defense. Gathering his little flock around him, and consigning them to the care of a kind and trusted Heavenly Father, my grandsire took down from its resting-place over the rude mantle, his trusty rifle, and only waiting to secure his ammunition and a few rations, set out for the appointed rendezvous, to follow his country's banner through that long and unequal, but successful contest, recorded in history as the American Revolution. My grandmother remained at home with her little ones many months after her husband's departure, caring for their embryo farm and little home, which had become so dear to them; but the conflict was steadily pressing farther westward into the interior, |