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Introduction
The Lord smiled benevolently upon the city of New
Haven,Connecticut,on a stormy winter's night in 1825, and
His official tot-bearer, the stork, rode the gale from Heaven
and deposited a little stranger within the humble cottage
home of Mr,and Mrs. William Daniel Thomas, respectable
though pious people,who were ever ready to drop a coin into
the collection plate or provide a fried chicken for the pastor.
Like the Magi of eld, they gazed upon the infant in bewil
dered but worshipping awe,and listened raptly to the wails
which racked his puny frame. They named him Jeremiah.
"We'll make him a preacher," said Mr. Thomas."Or a
Professor,"he added,thinking of Yale College and the digni
fied savants of the faculty.
"A preacher," Mrs. Thomas decided, and murmured ec
statically. "The Reverend Jeremiah Thomas! Oh, Will,
maybe a D.D.!"
"Of course," agreed Mr.Thomas."By all means a D.D."
But, alas for the fond hopes of doting parents! A power
transcending that of man had decreed the fate of the inno
cent babe,and no such dreadful destiny had been plotted for
him upon the heavenly charts. He did not become the Rev
erend Jeremiah Thomas,for it was not written that he should
receive and interpret, and when necessary amend, the com
mands and wishes of the Almighty. Nor did he become a
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