“_Aug. 5, 1835._—Woke up and thought of E———, M———, and G———; compared their characters. M——— is marked by INTELLECT, G——— by lady-like character, sweetness, and gayness. E——— has neither so _prominent_, but both well combined and softened by strongest and sweetest _affectionateness_. Her character is uniform, and projects, if anywhere, in line of _affection_.” “_Sept. 14, 1835._—I wonder what people think of my warmth? Some, I know, estimate it far too highly, because they have not _seen_ much of such things. Others, and _most_, suppose it very _low_ and suspect very little of it. It is in truth but _medium_ naturally. Well, in a year or two, and then E——— will be disappointed the right way. What a noble creature E——— is! I could have looked through ten thousand and never have found one so every way suited to me. How dearly do I love her! I long for the portrait.” “_Oct. 1, 1835._—Found a packet of letters from my dearest E———. Oh, how dear! Her _likeness_ too, which, though imperfect in some respects, has very much the looks of the original, and if only _one_ feature were preserved I would feel grateful. But, excepting the _mouth_, each feature is faithfully like her own. I shall begin a letter to her to-night. God bless and keep her! I love her more and more and say less and less about it. “Harriet has had E———’s portrait all day, and I have felt quite lonesome without it. Last evening I retired to bed and very philosophically decided to leave the portrait in my side-pocket. I lay for some half-hour and was quite convinced that it was in the wrong place, and removed it to my pillow. It soon underwent another migration—_where_, one may imagine if he will recall all such doings as depicted in novels.” The following is his first mention of preaching in the West: “_Aug. 9, Sunday, 1835._—Preached twice in George’s church. In morning with great dryness and trouble, and felt much mortified—more, I think, than _grieved_. “Afternoon smaller audience, but had great liberty and fluency, and produced effect; but whether superficial or permanent and saving, God only knows. Afternoon text: ‘My ways not as your ways’; Morning: ‘For we thus judge’ (2 Cor. v. 14, etc.) “After preliminaries, subject, ‘The genius of Christianity is not to produce _gloom_ or debar from pleasure; but, contrary, _earthly_ pleasures can _only_ be enjoyed by Christians, and much more _heavenly_.’” He begins to be conscious of unused powers. “_Sept., 1835._—Since reading Crabbe and Scott I am possessed with the notion of writing _characters_. I have some models which I know would be originals.” His love of fun evidently subjected him now and then to criticism. To one whose remarks had touched him to the quick he writes in self-defence: