Year: 1860


believe started life under the aus
pices of my fathers aunt Deborah, maj
den lady of sixty-four, who in the place
of the father and mother whom / never
saw, alternately patted me and scolded
me as long as she was able. escaped
when eleven years old by running away /;
and although sue sent me innumerable /
messages when she discovered my where
abouts, to return to her, and be sent to
school and fitted for college, undutifnl-
ly refused to go near her again.


had hired out with small farmer
to do his chores for my board and
clothes, and | stayed three years, at the
end of which time my moving propensi-
ties moved me to run off from him. /
had made my arrangements, and was
even mounted on the top of the Reading
stage, when, who should come into the
the tavern yard but the farmer.


Where are you going, boy ? he call
ed out in hard and severe tone.


To Boston, SIR


To Boston


| cannot describe the manner in which
he said this but it awoke up all the
memories of fogging which left scars
yet, have not time to tell you how
many more than the immortal Fusbos
had. He was a coarse, profane man,
and he launched out into strain of
abuse which would have made my blood
chill if / mad been afraid of him, and
bade me instantly 60 home.


Thank you SIR 1 said, am engag-
ed TO somebody else


At this moment the stage started. He
ordered the driver to stop and let me
down but he drove on, and l am almost
ashamed to record that / made signifi-
cant gesture with my thumb and finger
upon my very decent Roman nose, and
calling out:


Goodbye, sir,-you shall hear from
me some day. went off in The exultant
triumph of freedom.


l 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 find me stopping place
in the city.


At that time there twas a very old
house in Howard street, now demolished
in which Mr. Jones kept boarders for a
number of years. Here he stopped the
stage for me to get down.


What shall do, driver p / said.


Just ring that bell, my lad,' he an
swered, and somebody will come anc
let you in


/ looked up to the top of the door.


i don't see any bell, sir ] said tim
idly.


The man burst into loud laugh.


Pull that, knob, greenyp he said
and straight way / pulled it again AM
again, until Mr.. Jones, queer looking
fellow, with one leg and dilapidate'
eye, came to the door, and looking dag
gers out OF his remaining orb of visio
upon the luckless wight who had broke
his bell wire


Let that youngster stay with you an
mamma Jones till l come to supper
said the still laughing driver; and | stait
Mamma Jones was lady that woul
have made fine companion for Danit
Lambert. Sheltered beneath her cap;
cious wings, could bid defiance to lit
Mr.. Jones, who dared not attack anythin
that his wife might happen to fancy f'
petting. This knowledge together vii
the daily sight of my old friend, the dr.
yer, kept me happy through the winte
/ secured knives, and performed quite
series of similar dignified labors eve
morning but when boys of my own a
were around, sometimes thought viii
looking at their good and respectat
clothing, that it would not have been
bad plan for me to have accepted Au
Deborah's offer of sending me to collee


An opportunity offering to go to 81
prepared to 90, despite the entreat
and tears of the fat lady. When S
found me determined, she provided I
with everything needful for voyai
hugging me to her capacious heart, a
bid me God speed. Jones, who was
angry because / staid there, was s
more SO when / went away-and IN
wife's absence taunted her of my n
clothes, which he more than half susp
ed came from her, although they pas:
as the gift of the stage driver.


The servants were assembled to
me 90 away, and their hearty 'Good-b
rstA f.t4H