with nails.’  I thought about Mr. Burritt’s sparks.  He has got a few in England and France and America.  I thought about the Russians, if they would but examine this chapter as well as I have, I think they would make away with their arms, for the Lord says, them that war against thee, they shall be as nothing and as a thing of nought.  How dare they go to war against their Maker.  I dare not.  I have another word or two to say to my young friends in America.  The boys and girls in England, they are forced to work very hard all the week till about middle day on the Saturday, and then they get a little time to play while their parents go and sell their work.  They frequently come for me but I am very often forced to deny them.  I tell them that I have some reading and writing to do.  Reading and writing must be seen to.  If that apostle Paul had neglected his reading and writing, that jailor would have never, perhaps, seen need to have cried out, ’what must I do to be saved,’ or if Mr. Burritt had neglected his reading and writing very likely I should never have been able to read or write.  Though you are in America and I am in England if we put our heads to work we dont know what we may do some day.  It does me good to read that there are so many ladies engaged in the work.  I have been asked several times what was the price of the Citizen, but I have not found that out yet.  I dont know how you count your money.  I dont know how much a cent is.  The first three newspapers that I had, I paid five pence each for; but now I get them for twopence each.  I keep at my old employment.  I did not know that there was any other country besides England till I had the Citizen.  While I am hammering away with my two hammers my mind is flying all over America and Africa and South Carolina and California and Francisco and France and Ireland Scotland and Wales, and then it comes back to Devonshire, then to Mrs. Prideaux, and then to them ladies at Bristol, and then to Mr. Fry at London, and what a good man he is in the cause.

I remain your humble servant wish to be a fellow
laborer, heart and hand.

JOSIAH BANNER.

* * * * *

BROMSGROVE LICKEY, Dec. 28th, 1849.

MY DEAR SIR: 

I have received your letter with two sovereigns on Dec. 26.  I dare say my young friends will look for something very good from me, but nothing very interesting for them at this time.  I will tell you the reason.  The last week before Christmas I was working late and early all the week, and at the end of the week my foot and hand did ache very much.  In that week I received a letter of young Mr. Fry, a little school boy, and a beautiful letter it was.  I have read it many a time to the boys and girls and I had to write him one back again that week, and a few days before I had to write one to Mr. Coulton, Superintendent of the Sunday school at Norwood.  For this two or three last years, I have made a practice in going a carol singing