Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/102

86 Brunswick. He said to me, ‘Would you like to give him something?’ I had just published Poole’s Annotations, in three imperial octavo volumes. I said, ‘I will give him this.’ About two years later, a young man entered my store and bought some books. He said to me, ‘You gave my brother Poole’s Commentary; I value it very highly, and need it as much as he.’ I gave it to him. Still later, a third came with the same story, and received it. ‘How many sons has your father?’ I asked. ‘Seven.’ ‘And do you suppose they will all study for the ministry?’ ‘I suppose they will.’ How many got Poole I do not remember, but I think it was good seed cast into good ground.

“When the Doctor made his visits among his people, he included my family. And oh how pleasant it sounded, when I returned home in the evening, to hear my dear wife say, ‘Dr. De Witt was here to-day’! The Wednesday before he died, my wife and I paid him a visit. It was a very tender one. He said, ‘Whether it is my phlegmatic constitution or not, I cannot say, but I have not had a doubt of my interest in Christ.’ He seemed in the land of Beulah. He was seated in his arm-chair in the library in perfect peace. Oh, how much I owe to him! Verily he has his reward.”

It would not perhaps be too much to say, that there was no layman in this country more largely known among the clergy than Robert Carter. His store for many years, especially after its removal to Broadway, almost served the purpose of a ministers’ exchange or a ministerial club-room. On Monday mornings, the minister’s rest day, the store would be filled with clergymen, and the most delightful conversations and discussions would be carried on, in all which Mr. Carter took his part and held his own. Ministers from