entire confidence of all who know and appreciate his moral worth and business talents.
EDWIN M. BANNISTER.
Edwin M. Bannister was born in the town of St.
Andrew, New Brunswick, and lost his father when
only six years old. He attended the grammar school
in his native place, and received a better education
than persons generally in his position. From early
childhood he seems to have had a fancy for painting,
which showed itself in the school room and at home.
He often drew portraits of his school-fellows, and the
master not unfrequently found himself upon the slate,
where Edwin's success was so manifest that the likeness
would call forth merriment from the boys, and
create laughter at the expense of the teacher. At the
death of his mother, when still in his minority, he was
put out to live with the Hon. Harris Hatch, a wealthy
lawyer, the proprietor of a fine farm some little distance
in the country. In his new home Edwin did not
lose sight of his drawing propensities, and though the
family had nothing in the way of models except two
faded portraits, kept more as relics than for their intrinsic
value, he nevertheless practised upon them,
and often made the copy look more life-like than the
original. On the barn doors, fences, and every place
where drawings could be made, the two ancient faces
were to be seen pictured. When the family were
away on the Sabbath at church, the young artist would
take possession of the old Bible, and copy its crude