Think Monroe street more desirable than Adams. I have many letters to answer, but in a lot 60x325 would have plenty of room for croquet. The weather is quite warm here, and the taxes in Chicago are nearly as high as at Lake View! Had a good letter from Brother Sankey, but I wouldn't want to live on a cross street or in a south front. Vincent wants you at Chautauqua, the last three days. I think I will be thar, if we get our house furnished. I want a large dining-room and a bath-room ten feet square. Augusta is reported to have paid Moody $1,500 and the papers say he deserved it. Would you want a Mansard or a barn to hang your clothes in? I received $100 from Augusta and if you did $200 there, my part is $60, please endorse $40 on the you owe me; and if our house has a study with east windows in it, I shall be satisfied. Paul is out with Grandpa, mowing the front yard, but I don't believe we'd ever be contented on the South Side ; do you? You said "twelve alsos in 8th Romans." I can't find but eleven. To-morrow is picnic, but I can't afford time to go. I want a house near the street cars. My mother and Mr. Jennings are here; we are having a family gathering. Take your wife to Chicago and Chautauqua. I'd be willing to go a little west of Wood street on Monroe or Warren avenue. Tend to your part of the horse, and don't be running off to conventions, female prayer-meetings, etc. We might make a bedroom of the back parlor. Give our love to Charlie. Mail and Way. I'll be glad when we're in it and it's paid for. "Tell him to keep cool and get rested for next winter," my wife says. In fact, she says so much, I fear I may have mixed up some things she says about our Chicago home with my letter to you. DEARLY BELOVED BROTHER: ROME, PENNSYLVANIA, August 22, 1876. Your pome is quite overcoming. My time is too precious and the game too insignificant to reply in kind. Am bent on a month of quiet; so let me alone. Just replied to Mrs. M.'s cordial invitation to visit them in N. "No," to J. C., who offered to come to Towanda to see me. "No," to a Canadian campmeeting. No, I have not committed myself to C. or anybody else for anything except the Lord and you. Nothing about book from Bro. Sankey or Moody. I agree with you about book and everything. I guess Moody will let G. H. and S. S. alone as it is. Wife is good and I am glad. All things are working together. Have planned to leave the boys here with Grandma and Aunt Clara, this winter, so wife can go with me. Sent all of our folks (six) to Centennial yesterday for a week. Boys are doing finely. Where are Charlie and May? Wait, like yourself, deserves spanking. Same to your wife. Yours infirm, P. P. B. DEAR WHITTLE: TOWANDA, Sunday, December 17, 1876. We are within ten miles of the boys, arrived here at two o'clock this morning, four hours late; so are spending this Lord's Day with my sister, where my dear old mother is "waiting." I am glad for a day with her who gave me my first music lesson. And she is enjoying us so much. We remember you in our morning prayers. Suppose Chicago is all settled. Nevertheless my feeling is the same, though my faith, I hope, is stronger. If He says go I'm ready. N. B.-The Lord is your Shepherd. He will carry you through. Hope your wife is better. Dear child! may the Lord bless her to-day. We hope to go to Rome to-morrow. Shall look for a letter from you soon. I hope the Lord will lead the meeting at P. Give our regards to the "singers as well as the players upon instruments" who are there. Also to the Grier House, Tyngs, Reynolds, "Hams," etc. In peace I go, No fear I know. Wish you the same, P. P. CHAPTER XXIII. MR. BLISS' LAST HYMNS-MUSIC BY HIS FRIENDS, SANKEY, LOWRY, DOANE, MCGRANAHAN, ROOT, STEBBINS, CASE, PALMER, MURRAY, CHRISTIE AND MRS. SCOTT. A FITTING close to these memoirs is the contribution here made to the memory of Mr. Bliss, by friends who were very dear to him, and to whom he was very dear, and with whom he was in peculiarly pleasant relations, writing songs of praise to the same blessed Redeemer and Lord, sending out the messages of the Gospel on wings of music to the ends of the earth, These friends have kindly taken the hymns that were written by Mr. Bliss during his last days, and for which he had not prepared music, and their compositions, with his words, are here for the first time published, by consent of John Church & Co., by whom words and music are copyrighted. Very kind and loving have been the messages that these brethren have sent with their music. "I thank you for the privilege," writes dear Mr. Lowry. "Dear Bliss very gladly, very cheerfully, anything you want," was the tender reply of Root, Palmer, and all who were asked to make this contribution to the memory of their loved friend and brother. "Anything I can do for dear Bliss' orphan boys or for his family, count on me to do it," was the immediate reply of Doane; and so this tribute comes from full, loving hearts. No thanks are expected by any, but to all this acknowledgment of their kindness is due and is gratefully rendered. Surely, those called of God, and honored with such a glorious mission, are yoked together in much to call forth mutual praise and prayer. |