The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-11-15
An Autobiography of "A Lawyer.

believe started life under the auspices
of my fathers aunt, Debnall, a maiden lady
ofsixty-four, who in the place of tie father
and mother whom never saw, alternately
ratted me and scoded me as long as she was
able. escaped from both when eleven years
old by running away and although she sent
me innumerable messages when she dis
covered my whereabouts, to return to her
and be sent to school and ftted for college,
unlutifuly refused ever togo near her again
had SHRED ou" with sman farmer ana
stayed three years, at the end Of which
time my moving prhpensities moved me to
run off from him. had made my arrange
ment-, an l was even mount I'd on the ton of
the Reading stage, when who should como
into the tavern yard but the farmer
"Where are you going, boy p he called
ont in hard and severe tone.
''To Boston, SIR"
''To Boston,"
cannot describe the manner in which he
said this but it awoke up all theimenories
of llogging which left scars get, have not
time to tell you low many more than the
nmorta' Fusbos had He was / course,
profane man, and he launched out into a
strain of abuse which would have made my
blood chill il | had been afraid of him, and
bade me instantly to go home.
"Thank you, sir," said, %! am engaged
to somebody else"
At this moment the stage startkd. He
orlered the driver to stop and let me down ;
but he drove on, and am almost ashamed to
record that made a significant gesture with
my thumb an finger upon my very decent
Roman nose, and calling out:
"Good-bye, sir--you shall hear from me
some day." went off in the exultaut 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, aud dfer-
ing to find me stopping place in the city.
AT that time there was very old house in
Howard street, now demolished, in which a
Mr.. Jones kept boarders for number OF
years. Here he stopped the stage for me to
get down.
What shall do, driverr / said.
''Just ring that bell, my lad, !" he answere /,
and somebody will come and let you h.p
looked up to the top of the door.
81 don't see any bell, sir" said tmidly.
The man burst into loud laugh.
'Pu'l that knob, greeny r. he said; and
straightway pulled it again and agah, un-
til Mr.. Jones, a queer looking fellow, with
one leg and a dilapidated eye, came to the
door, and looked daggers out of his rem hin-
ing orb of vision upon the luckless Weight
who had broken his bell wire.
"Let that youngster stay with you ind
mama Jones till come to SUPPER" said The
still laughing driver and staid.
Mamma Jones was lady that would hive
made fine companion for Daniel LambSt.
Sheltered beneath her capacious wings,
could bid defiance to little Mr. Jones, wic
dared not attack anything that his wife
might take fancy for petting. This know,
edge together with the daily sight of my on
fiend, the driver, kept me happy through tn
winter. l secured knives, and performe,
quite series Of similar dignified labors eve.
morning but when boys of my own 81
were around, / sometimes thought willie
looking at their good and respectable
clothing, that it would not bo bad plan pl
me to have accepted Aunt Deborah's Off
Of sending me to college.
An opportunity offering to 60 to seal
prepared to 60, despite the entreaties ald
tears of the fat lady. When she found q
determined, she provided me with everything
needful for a voyage, and hugged me to n,
capacious heart, and bade me God speed.
Jones, who was so angry because | stal;
there, was still more SO when went awaytt
and in his wife's absence taunted her Of NJ
new clothes, which he more than half sui
pected came from her, although they passd3
as the gift of the stage driver.