“‘It is all a money-making scheme,’ says a third, who must soon give up his stewardship; ‘Mr. Miller is putting up some large buildings in New Haven, and he has a barrel of jewels in his house, which have been given him where he has preached.’
“‘The amazing stupidity of these fictions almost hides from view the malice which invented them. But when we look at his wife and daughter, to whom a husband and father’s reputation is as the apple of the eye, we begin to feel them as a personal injury, though they are nothing, in this view, in comparison with the public mischief they occasion.
“‘Bro. Miller’s faith remains unwavering. He said he should be happy if he felt as sure of Heaven as he did that he had the truth on the prophecies of Daniel.
“‘His eyesight is improved since his sickness, so that he now uses spectacles which he had laid aside as being too young several years ago. He reads the small Polyglot Bible with the greatest ease. He is a diligent reader of Second Advent papers. After he has received one he seldom lays it aside till he has become acquainted with all its contents. The rest of his reading is nearly confined to the Scriptures. He is able to write freely, and it requires no small share of his time to attend to the numerous letters he receives.
“‘He starts early next week (Providence permitting) on his way to Rochester, Lockport, and Buffalo, N. Y. It will be necessary for one of his sons to accompany him, as he is not strong enough to travel alone.
“‘We were interested in seeing his old family Bible, which cost $18.50, and his quarto copy of Cruden’s Concordance, which was originally purchased, in 1798, for $8. These two books were almost the only ones he looked at while preparing his lectures. A clergyman once called at his house in his absence, and, being disappointed in not seeing him, wished the privilege of looking at his library. His daughter conducted the visitor into the north-east room, where he has sat so many hours at his ancient desk. Those two books, and no others, lay upon the table. “That is his library,” said she. The clergyman was amazed. Her remark was strictly true, as far as theological writings were concerned. He never had a commentary in his house, and did not remember reading any work upon the prophecies, except Newton and Faber, about thirty years ago.
“‘When we spoke to him about the stories in relation to his property in New Haven, he pleasantly remarked that those who believed them could easily satisfy themselves; for he had sold to Bro. McDonald, of Williamsburg, near New York city, all his property, real or personal, out of Low Hampton, for five dollars, and the purchaser had offered to give half of it to any one who would find any.
“‘Monday afternoon we reluctantly took leave of this peaceful spot, which had been our pleasant home for two days, rejoicing that calumny could there find no truthful basis on which to found its reckless and cruel assertions.
“‘N. Southard.
“‘Carleton, Vt., October 23, 1843.’