on Christmas day in the morning and of course they looked for me again.  So I started out at five o’clock and came home at nine, and then I went to school.  I have never missed going to school on a Sunday for this last three years.  I always like to be there to teach or to be teached.  Now I have got this present in my hand, it leads me to the Scriptures; and at the fifty eighth chapter of Isaiah and at the second verse:  “Now they seek me daily and delight to know my ways as a nation that did righteousness and forsook not the ordinances of their God.”  They ask of me the ordinances of justice, they take delight in approaching to God.  Now if all nations would act to one another as America does to me, I think that better day would soon come.  When I sat down to write this letter I thought that I would tell my young friends how thankful I was to receive their Christmas present; but my pen is not able to express nor my tongue is not able to confess it.

My young friends, when Mr. Burritt came to our house first, we had no Bible, but now we have two.  My father could not read it but your kindness has teached me to read it and now I have teached my father to read it, and I am trying to teach my sisters to read it.

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

JOSIAH BANNER.

* * * * *

BROMSGROVE LICKEY, Jan. 18th, 1850.

My Dear Young Friends:—­I will write you a few more lines.  I have got a very nice cloth coat and trousers, and I have a suit from head to foot.  I have had three happy Christmases, but this is the best I ever witnessed before.  It is not because I have had much play.  I have been so busy in reading letters and writing letters.  I have received two a week, for this last three weeks, of the friends of peace.  On the morrow after Christmas day I was at work again.  When my sisters have called me to my breakfast or dinner, I have been forced to be reading while I have eaten my food.  One night I was reading in the Citizen about my young friends.  I was reading about that little girl which went without milk at supper time because I should have a suit of clothes.  My mother she dropped her head and began to wipe her eyes, but I kept on reading till I come to that little girl which came skipping across the street with a good long list of names which she had been collecting money of.  I was forced to put the paper down.  I told her that you sent that money to make me comfortable not to make me miserable.  My mother she made me promise to pay you all again.  I told her you did not want money you only wanted me to be a good boy and write about peace and Brotherhood, and as soon as I can I shall send some money to pay for some Olive Leaves and a good song to put in them.  There are some good boys in America as well as girls.  They have been very busy for me.  I return you all many sincere thanks for your kindness.  I am writing to you with