The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-10-27
An AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF orALAwYER.

s
1 corxeIL BLUFFS, Iowa. A.B c.
/ An AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF LAWYER.
believe started life under the auspices
Of my fathers aunt, Deborah, a maiden
lady of six,y-four, who. in the place of the
/ father and mother whom never saw, alter
nately patteG me and scoided me as long as
she was able. ! escaped from both when
eleven years old by running away; and
although she cen, me innumerable messages
when she discovered my whereabouts, to
return to her and DO sent to school and
fitted for college. undutifully refused ever
to go near her again.
| bad ..hired out'' with small farmer
to do bis "chores" for my board and clothes,
and ] stayed three years, ut the end of
which time my moving propensi,ies moved
me to run OF from him. had made my
arrangements, and was even mounted on
the top of the Reading stage, when who
shoa!d come into the tavern yard but the
| farmer.
''Where are you going, boy ?" he called
out in bard and sev ere tone.
| 'sTo Boston, SIR"
! "ro Doston.'
! Icanao: describe the manner in which he
said this; but it awoke up all the memories
of fogging which left scars yet, l have not
/ time 10 tell YOU how manv more than the
| immortal FGsbos had. lie was a coarse,
profane man, and he launched cut into q
/ strain Of abuse which would have made my
/ blood chill If had been afraid Of him, and
! bade me instantly 10 go home.
''Thank you, SIR" said, 81 am engaged
to somebody else
! At this moment the stage started. He
ordered the driver to stop and let me down;
bu: he drove on, and an almost ashamed
to record that made significant gesture
with my thumb and finger upon my very de-
cent Roman nose, and calling out:
! "Good-hyr, sir--you shall hear from me
soma day." wen. off in the exul,ant tri-
umph of freedom.
! was delighted with the fine prospect
which | enjoyed in my elevated seat. The
driver was very kind to me. refusing to
take my money for the whole Journey, and
offering to End me stopping place in the
! city.
! AT that time there was very old house
! in Howard street. now demolished, in which
Mr.. Jones kept boa-ders for q number Of
years. Here he stopped the stage for me
10 get down.
What shall do, driver ?" said.
! "Just ring that bell, my lad,' he answer.
I o1, and somebody will come and let you
| in.''
| looked up to the top of the door.
81 don't see any bell, sir" | said tinidly.
The man burst into loud laugh.
"pul that knob, grceny - he said and
straishtway pulled it again and again. un-
| I'll Nj. Jones, a queer looking fellow, with
one leg and a dlapiiated eye, came to the
door, and looked daggers out Of his remain
ing orb Of vision upon the luckless wight
who bad broken his bell wire.
"Let that youngster stay with you and
mamma Jones till come to SUPPER" said
the still laughing driver; and staid.
Mamma Jones was n lady that wonld
have made "A fine companion for Daniel
Lrmber,. Sheltered beneath her capacious
wings, could bid defiance to little Mr..
his wife mi sbt take fancy for petting.
This knowledge together with the daily
,ight Of my old friend, the driver kept me
happy through the winter. Iscoursd knives,
and performed quite series of similar
higniEed lubors every mcrning; but when
boys Of my own age were around, some
times thought while looking at their good
and respectable clothing, taat it would not
have been a bad plan for me to have accept
ed Asn: Deborah's Offer Of sending me to
college.
Aa opportunity offering to 60 to sea,
roEared to 90. despite the entreaties and
tears of the fat lady. When she found me
determined, she provided me with every ythinc
needtul for a voyage, hugsed me to her
capacious heart, and bade me God speed.
Jones, who was so angry because s,aid
there, WAS still more 50 when went away
and his Nife's absence tainted b r Of
my new clothes, which he more than haif
suspected came from her, although they
passed as the gift of the stage driver.
The servants were assembled to Zee me go
away, and their hearty "Good-bye, Sam !
A safe return to you old fellow ~ was prob
ably more sincere than ninc-ienths Of the
good wishes that have been spoken to me
since that time.
| lshall say bu. very little about my sea life.
II did not answer my expectations at all. |
never passed day without into!erabe sea
sickness, and being a light delicate boy, the
captain advised me as a friend to stay in
future upon land. Going on shore, the
mate stepped forward and shook my hard.
saying;
after ALL"
! | did not then know the meaning OF this
| phrase, but when got back to the old house
| in Howard street, nv friend the driver, re-
peated it, and from him 60; the exp.aua
ton Of the term.
| could not get back to the kitchen to
work again after my voyage, so looked
| diligently for some employment. An adser-
tisem-us in the paper for a printers boy
enught my eye, and applied and was receiv
ed. Here was quite happy; made myself
a faTorite in the Office, and fortunately sue
eeeded in learning the business 50 that ms
services would command fair remupers-
/ ti0n.
At swensy-one married Susan Russell,
the laughter Of my employer. am thus
( brief in recording this, because by nc
alchemy whatever could convert the old
/ fashioned matter. of-facs liking for each
other and subsequent uaion into anything
Ike romance. The wkole might be com
pressed into . single sentence. liked he'
and married her when found she liked
me.
| My description Of our new bone uou,t
be qaiss as brisf. We took two room.
furnished them comfortably, and Susa,
kept them shining Ike silver she whoI'
year round. II ever enjoyed true, real
unrsni,ied hapriaes-, without care o.
anxiety. or fear for The future, Is was IL
those days. What peace We enjoyed. oui
two eldest children were born here: ans
then cur limits seemed too small but j: y n
real pain to both of us 20 movo from ihs
long abode which bad been the scene Of .,
many calm and peaceful hours.
We removed to cottage IN the soburb
OF Boston; not those miniasare cities vhicl
! nav rise up beside the vesisabls TTino0n
tain. bus small and obscsss village, sisc
risen to the sire sad iupessascs is deserves