Year: 1861

believe started life under the auspices of
my fathers aunt, Deborah, maiden lady of six
ty four, who in the place of the father and mo-
ther, whom never saw, alternately petted me
and scolded me as long as she was able. | es-
capped from both when eleven years old by
running away, and although she sent me innu-
merable messages when she discovered my
whereabouts, to return to her, and be sent to
school aud fitted for college, undutifully refused
ever to go near her again.


| had hired ont with small farmer to do his
chores for my board and clothes, and staid
three years, at the end of which time my rowing
propensites moved me to run off from him.
had made my arrangements, aud was even mount
ed on the top of the Reading stage, when who
should come into the tavern yard but the farmer.


Where are you going, boy ?" he called out
in a hard and severe tone.


"To Boston, sir"


"To Bostono


| cannot describe the manner in which he said
this but it woke up all the memories OF Hog
ging which left scars-yet | have not time tc
tell you how many more than the immortal Fus
bos had He was coarse, proiane man, and he
launched out into a strain Of abuse which would
have made my blood chill If had been afraid
of him, and babe me instantly go home.


"Thank you, sir" said, I" | am engaged to
somebody else"


At this moment the stage started. He ordered
the driver to stop and let me down bat he drove
on, and am almost ashamed to record that |
made "a significant gesture with my thumb and
finger upon my very decent Roman nose, and
calling out


Good by sir, you shall hear from me some
day." | went off in the eXutant triumph of free
dom.


was delighted with the fine prospect which
| enjoyed n my elevated seat. The driver was
very kind to me, refusing to take my money for
the whole journey, and Offering to find me II
stopping place in the city


At that time there was a very old house in
Howard street, since demolished, in which a Mr..
Jones kept boarders for a number Of years.
Here he stopped the stage for me TO get down.


"What shall do, driver ?" | asked


"Just ring that bell, my lad" he answered,
"and somebody will come and let you in."


| looked up at the top of the door.


81 don't any bell, sir, | said timdly.


The man burst into a loud laugh.


"Pull that knob, greeny," he said and
strag ghtway | pulled it again and again, until
Mr.. Jones, queer looking fellow, with one leg
and dilapidated eye, came to the door and
looked daggers out Of his remaining orb Of Wis.
ion, upon the luckless wight who had broken his
bell wire.


Let that youngster stay with you and nam
ma Jones till | come to supper" said the still
laughing driver and | staid.


Mamma Jones was a lady thatswould have
made fine companion for Daniel Lambert
Sheltered beneath her capaciou5 wings, could
bid defiance to little Mr.. Jones, who dared not
attack anything that his wife might take "a fancy
for petting. This knowledge, together with the
daily sight of my old friend the driver, kept me
happy through the Winter | secured knives,
and performed quite u series of similar dignled
abors every morning but when boys OF my
age were around, | sometimes thought while
looking at their good and respectable clothing
that it would not have been a bad plan for me TO
have accepted Aunt Deborah's offer of sending
Inc to college.


An opportunity Offering Of going to sea,
prepared to go, despite the tears aud entreaties
of the fat lady. When she saw | was determined
she provided me with everything needlul for a
voyage, hugged me to her capacious heart and
babe me God speed. Jones, who was so angry
because | stad there, was still more so when
went away-and in his wife's absence taunted
me of my new clothes. which he more than hall
suspected came from her, although they passed
as the gift of the stage driver.


The servants were assembled to see me &c
away, and their hearty 1" Good by Sam "a safe
return to you, old fellow - was probably more
sincere than nine -tenths of all the good wishes
that have been expressed for me since that time


! shall say but little about my sea life. 1t did
not answer my expectations at all. | never pas
sed day without intOlerable sea-slckness, and
being light, delicate boy, the captain advised
me as friend to stay in future upon land. Go
ing on shore, the mate stepped forward and
shook my hand, saying


"Well, Sam, you have killed sailor, after
all"


| did not then know the meaning OF thil
phrase but when | got back to the old house il
Howard street, my friend, the driver, repeated
it, and from him | got an explanation Of th'
term