AUTOBIOGRAPHY, I/ 



school, when, instead of responding to my desire, 

 he would send me to the saw-mill to work; and 

 at the age of twelve or thirteen I ran the mill 

 alone, though, while doing so, I have had to 

 mount on the lever and load it with extra weight, 

 as I was not heavy enough to raise the water- 

 gate. Thus I labored on from month to month, 

 until I was fourteen, in the meantime going but 

 little to school. Many times I would lay plans 

 to run away, believing that I could do for my- 

 self, and make my own mark in the world. 



Money, in those times and in that region, was 

 not plentiful, and I was early taught its value, a 

 lesson of great practical value to a youth who 

 has to hew his own path through life. Many 

 times I have traveled miles on a special errand for 

 a neighbor, or for some traveler, and received as 

 compensation a single penny, Money, so hardly 

 acquired, was not to be expended lightly, and 

 I saved my little earnings till the accumulated 

 sum amounted to four dollars. This seemed 

 to me like quite a fortune. I now felt myself to 

 be a. capitalist, and, naturally, the desire to use 



