"Boston, July 19, 1828.
"Brother Millard: I have received yours of June 28, and was glad to hear of your success in Canada and at the Central Conference. The truth must prevail, and error must fall. Since my return our assembly is fast coming back, and we are getting many new hearers. A revival is now commencing. Several are under conviction, and the saints begin to offer 'the pure testimony' in the house of the Lord. Elders Kilton, from Eastport, and Green, from Hartford, have visited me. I have visited the colleges at Cambridge, and the venerable Noah Worcester, of Brighton. He is one of the purest men I ever saw. His theme is peace, peace, peace! I would also say, that for young men among us who should wish to have a liberal education for the ministry, they can have board and tuition gratis, if properly introduced at Cambridge.
"I have been much out of health for a few weeks past; the hot weather overcomes me very much. If I do not get better I shall spend the week time in the country, though it seems as if I could not be spared a day from the flock of my care."
"Boston, August 4, 1828.
"Dear and affectionate Wife: I suppose you have some days been expecting this letter, but my labors here are of that arduous and oppressive kind which consume all my moments, and scarcely leave me time for repose and refreshment, much less to enjoy any innocent relaxation, or to bathe my weary spirit in the sweet and endearing reflections of home. You know, Maria, that home has charms for my heart this summer, which I scarcely ever felt so sensibly before; and since I left you, at any time would these four little letters, (H O M E) pronounced aright, cause the blood to flow more warmly about my heart, and a chain of endearing recollections to visit my soul in a manner which, in spite of all my masculine powers and native fortitude, would cause the briny tear to flow; and then ashamed of my childlike weakness, I have mingled with the crowd and wrapped these tender scenes in smiles, to hide them from my unfeeling associates, who, of course, would only mock my affection if they knew it. But this Monday morning, after the labors of one more holy Sabbath, I accept the pleasure and the duty of communicating to you a few lines to feed that sacred fire which should ever burn in your affections toward your God, your duty, and me."
Passages like these reveal unmistakably a serious depth of heart, almost wholly unindicated by the great self-control, and by the free and cheerful manner that shrouded his inmost life from the notice and perception of the world, and from the circle also of acknowledged friends. He adds:—
"Nothing but duty could confine me to this city the present month. I am in hopes to get time to spend one day with Mr. Bowman in the country, this week. I expect to receive several members next Wednesday, and to baptize on the coming Sabbath."
Whilst in Boston, Mr. Badger became acquainted with the clergymen of other denominations, particularly with Dr. Ware, Gannet and Tuckerman, of the Unitarian faith, of whom he always spoke in exalted terms. His acquaintance and intercourse with Ware and Tuckerman were familiar; and often did he speak of the divine spirit of Henry Ware, and of the benevolent heart of Mr. Tuckerman. Indeed, at one time Mr. Badger thought of accepting a proposal to join Mr. Tuckerman in his missionary labors in Boston, at least, so far did he think of it as to consult his family on the propriety of accepting the unanimous call of the Christian Society[43] in Boston, for a settlement of three or five years, or instead of this, to join Mr. Tuckerman in his missionary labors, with a permanent settlement and a thousand or twelve hundred dollars per year. For a work like this, the gathering in, the instruction and persuasion to virtue and religion of the neglected and unprosperous classes, Mr. B. had extraordinary gifts; yet, from the weight of considerations founded chiefly in his relations to his home and former field of labor in the State of New York, neither of these positions was accepted. An anecdote somewhat characteristic of the man was lately given me by a friend, and as it relates to extemporaneous preaching, I will transcribe it.
"While he was in Boston, he occasionally associated with clergymen of the Unitarian denomination, men who were perhaps distinguished above the average of ministers by the careful and elaborate manner in which they prepared their written discourses. One day he was accosted by one of them thus: 'Mr. Badger, how do you manage to prepare and preach so many sermons?' 'Why, sir,' he replied, 'I never study the words of my sermons. I study ideas, and clothe them in words when I want them.'"