Ruschenberger.] id J [April 1, 



discoursed about mineralogy, illustrating his lesson with specimens. 

 Young Leidy was so much interested that soon after he procured books 

 on mineralogy and botany and diligently studied them. At length he 

 became so fascinated in the pursuit that he often absented himself from 

 school without leave to seek specimens in the rural districts near the city. 

 Parental chidings for delinquencies of this kind did not always restrain 

 him. His self-will and eagerness to hunt for minerals and plants often 

 caused him to forget those admonitions and follow the inclination of the 

 hour. 



The conduct of the boy, his spontaneous ways, are in many instances 

 forecasts, in outline, of the characteristic features of the man he will 

 become ; and therefore it is interesting to observe those surroundings 

 which may influence their development. 



At the time Joseph entered the academy, Mrs. Burris, a respectable col- 

 ored woman, a widow, lived near and did laundry work for support. Her 

 son, Cyrus, a bright youth a few years older than Joseph, was errand boy 

 in the hatter's shop. His chief duty was to deliver hats at the homes of 

 their purchasers, and for each errand of the kind he received si.^ or twelve 

 cents, according to the distance he had to walk. 



There were then three schools at no great distance apart. Mr. Collom 

 and Mr. Livensetter charged three dollars a quarter for each pupil and 

 Mr. Mann twelve dollars. The boys of the two schools were at war with 

 those of the academy, and they had a fight whenever they met in the 

 street. 



Apprehensive that her son miglit be assaulted by some of those "rowdy 

 Ijoj's, " Mrs. Leidy engaged Cyrus to accompany him to school. These 

 two became intimate friends and often went together botanizing. 



Cyrus Burris is now a well-preserved man, of pleasant deportment, and 

 of more than seventy-five years of age. He is intelligent and has a reten- 

 tive memory. 



In answer to questions, Cyrus related substantially that Mr. Leidy once 

 took all his family for a picnic out where Fortieth and Baring streets are 

 now, and he went with them to carry things and be useful. At that time 

 plenty of weeds grew on the side of the hill. They at once attracted the 

 young professor, who found that he did not know any of them. But 

 Cyrus, who had been brought up in the country, near Burlington, N. J., 

 had there learned to know and name the herbs and weeds in his neighbor- 

 hood, was able to tell him the names of many of tliem. This show of 

 superior information pleased him so much that afterwards Cyrus was his 

 chosen companion on botanical excursions. 



His favorite hunting ground was along the banks of the Schuylkill and 

 Wissahickon. On the way, on one of their early walks, they strolled into 

 Mr. Henry Pratt's famous grounds at Lemon Hill. The late Mr. Robert 

 Kilvington, a practical and proficient botanist, then had charge of the 

 hothouses and garden. He noticed Leidy, and kindly answered his 



