"He gave to misery all he had, a tear,
He gained from heaven ('twas all he wished) a friend."
"Studious alone to learn whate'er may tend
To raise the genius or the heart amend."
Narrating his course to the readers of the Luminary, he says:—
"I left home September 24, accompanied by my wife, Mr. Chapin, and several other friends, for the general meeting at Chili, where we arrived in the evening. Here I met eight of my brethren in the ministry. Our interview was agreeably interesting, and the parting to me uncommonly solemn. The general meeting, so far as I could discern, was very satisfactory. The assembly was large, solemn, and attentive; the preaching was powerful and interesting, and the accommodations good. We leave the event with God. On our way to Royalton, I preached once in Clarkson, and once in Gaines. At Royalton, I met thirteen ministers of the everlasting Gospel, all of whom appeared to have the good of souls at heart, and love to the great and honorable work in which they were engaged. Brothers Church, Chapin, Beardsley, Shaw, Hathaway, Whitcomb, Blodget and Hamilton, all spoke to good satisfaction, and the multitude could say, our place was no less than the house of God, and the very gate of heaven. In conference, we received Francis Hamilton as a fellow-laborer. He gave two appropriate discourses, and I hope will be useful among us.
"October 3, our company, consisting of twelve persons, visited Niagara Falls, to view the stupendous and sublime works of nature. We lodged four or five miles up the river from the Falls. On walking out in the evening, the scene was peculiarly grand. While nature around was hushed, the never-ceasing roar of the stupendous cataract brought to my mind important reflections on several passages of Scripture. The next day, visited Black Rock and Buffalo; at twelve, the solemn, memorable hour arrived when our little company must be separated. Language is too poor to describe my feelings as I gave my wife, and six young people who were to accompany her return, the parting hand. Every heart felt more than words express; but, as all the company have lively hopes of immortality, we can look forward to a world where parting can never come.
'How soothing is the thought, and sweet!
But for a while we bid adieu;
With welcome smiles again to meet,
And all our social joys renew.'
"Our company now consists of five, L. Hathaway and wife, Jesse E. Church, and Asa Chapin. The two last are valuable young men, and bid fair to be useful in the great work of the ministry."
From Buffalo, Mr. Badger and his company proceeded along the shore of Lake Erie, following a lonesome road to the town of Pomfret, Chautaque County, N.Y., where he commenced a general meeting, October 8; nine clergymen were in attendance and much good influence was manifest.
Writing from Mt. Vernon, Knox County, Ohio, under date of October 31, 1825, he says:—
"In Chautaque County, I was delighted with three curiosities in nature. 1. A small spring[38] is found in Fredonia, which affords a sufficient quantity of gas to light the whole village with very little expense. It is delightful to see, in a land which, a few years ago, was a wilderness, nature and art majestically united. 2. A larger growth of timber is found here than I have ever seen before. I saw the stump of a tree, on which I was informed that sixteen men had stood at once. We measured a chestnut tree which was dry, and had lost its bark; three feet from the ground, it was nine feet and five inches through. 3. I was made acquainted with a young lady who is remarkably gifted in poetry. A few years since, Joseph Baily found her in a poor log-hut, portraying her charming effusions on the margins of old newspapers. On his stating the subject to some Christian friends, they sent her a quire of paper, which she wrote over in a short time, and returned it, to their admiration and astonishment. She and her husband both enjoy religion. Many a brilliant soul is now breathing in soft and lively emotions in remote wildernesses, and many a precious pearl is buried in the rubbish of poverty and ignorance."