8

Preface

This little Book is respectfully presented to Mrs. Elizabeth F.
Perry by her loving husband with the earnest request that
she will appropriate it as her Journal. In after life it
will be a source of great satisfaction to refer to the
remarks & comments which will here be made on the
passing events of the day.

For several years past I have kept
a Journal of my life, in which I have recorded all the
incidents which have happened to me during that time. I
have told where I was & what I was doing, whom I saw
and what they said. But even more than this, I have written
the inmost secret of my heart, the feelings and impulse
of my nature. This afforded me great pleasure at the time, and
has often given me much greater pleasure since in reading
and looking over it.

Let me then advise you my dear
wife to begin your Journal today. Make it a sort
of diary - set down in the evening what you have been
doing that day - whom you have seen - what book you
have read - the work you have been at - whether the
day has been pleasantly & [profitably] spent. When you
travel or leave home let this book be your companion
& write down in it all you see &c. In doing this I
do assure you that you will make a Book of exceeding
[grist] to yourself in after life. It will be a record of your
feelings opinions & [views] every day. In looking over this
Book [years] hence it will give you great pleasure