98 THE FOGY DAYS AND NOW ; 



MY FIRST HORSE TRADE. 



pROM first reinberance, I have been impressed with the idea 

 that I was a born speculator, and have ever been in expec- 

 tation of some grand result from this inherent talent, 

 although my experiences in life have turned out to the con- 

 trary, I am still unshaken in my faith, and live in constant 

 expectation of something turning up. I can only reconcile 

 the past contradictions to this (my pet theory) by the belief 

 that there is but one little obstruction in the way, and that is, 

 as yet, I havn't happened to strike it right ; have not 

 struck the flood tide at its proper stage, and though I now 

 number past three score years, still in the vigor of manhood, 

 I have not dispaired. I feel my good time has got to come, and 

 if I fail to catch up with it in this world, which I have now 

 concluded is most probable, then I shall confidently expect to 

 be successful in the next one. 



My father owned and worked extensive gold mines in North 

 Carolina, though our home was on the Seneca river, in South 

 Carolina. He often sent me to Dahlonega, Ga., where a 

 United States mint was located, to have the gold dust coined. 

 I started out one beautiful spring morning with some two 

 thousand pennyweights of this precious stuff in my saddle- 

 bags, riding a splendid young sorrel mare named Francis ; my' 

 father and mother both stood out on the portico and watched 

 me as the beautiful filly bore me gracefully from their sight. 



