JAMES SHERMAN KIMBALL. A SKETCH. BY J. W. K. [Illustration] BOSTON: _THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY_; INSTITUTED 1814. DEPOSITORIES, 28 CORNHILL, BOSTON, AND 13 BIBLE HOUSE, ASTOR PLACE, NEW YORK. CONTENTS. I. PAGE CHILDHOOD 5 II. AT SCHOOL 12 III. IN COLLEGE 27 IV. FARM LIFE 38 V. DELEGATE OF THE CHRISTIAN COMMISSION 43 JAMES S. KIMBALL. I. CHILDHOOD. Can a father, his heart yearning with unspeakable tenderness over a child worthy of all the love he inspired, tell the story of that child wisely, fairly, profitably? Let me try: for to me it seems full of the sweetest lessons our Lord could bestow on parents and on children. Perhaps a ray of heavenly light from his life may fall pleasantly upon some path,--a somber and rugged path, perchance,--bringing assurance that in God’s time “the rough ways shall be made smooth,” and “light arise in the darkness.” James was received at his birth as a loan from the Lord, and was then, and thenceforward, consecrated unconditionally to him, to serve in whatever capacity he should be best pleased to employ him. God gave him a most affectionate, and home-loving disposition. He was the sturdy friend and helper of the little ones, and in his earliest letter written to his parents, before he was eight, he said, “I wish to live, with God’s consent, to see you in a good old age; and I wish to live to support you in your old age.” He began life as other boys begin it, with great delight in hardy sports, and a fair interest in study. He was unselfish, frank, and fearless. Having no inclination to be unkind to others, it seemed never to occur to him that others could be unkind to him. Secure in this unconscious panoply, he was welcome everywhere, and made friends before he thought of doing so.