AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JOHN F. LACEY 391 



ray father at the plastering and bricklaying and stone- 

 mason trade, and in the winter James and I kept bach- 

 elor's hall with George Godfrey in Oskaloosa and attend- 

 ed the school of Professor Howe and Professor A. Hull. 

 In 1858 I had a repetition of the experience of 1857, but 

 spent all my spare time in study and taught school at 

 Frits 's school-house in Monroe County during the winter. 

 I received $20 a month and board, but boarded around 

 with the patrons of the school. This was an interesting 

 life, but had many drawbacks. The year 1858 had been 

 one of continual rain and the crops were the nearest a 

 total failure of anything I have ever seen in Iowa. Cattle 

 died of actual starvation and old hay and strawstacks of 

 the year before were sold at almost fabulous prices. 



In the winter of 1859 I again taught a winter school at 

 Crowell's school-house, not far from the scene of my pre- 

 vious experience, and both winters I spent in most de- 

 lightful study. Every Friday night both these winters, I 

 walked home, nine miles, and there was never a more 

 pleasing sight than the light in the window at the old home 

 as it appeared in view when I got within two or three 

 miles of home. A great log fire in the chimney welcomed 

 me, and my father, mother, and such of the children as 

 were at home, made these weekly visits sources of the 

 greatest pleasure. 



The year 1860 I again worked on the farm and James 

 went to Shelby Comity, Missouri, where he taught school. 

 In the year 1860 I had my last actual schooling. I board- 

 ed with my uncle Robert's family and attended the acad- 

 emy of Professor M. A. Robb. The war threatened us all 

 winter but I put in the time with extra diligence. I stud- 

 ied Latin, mathematics, and many other studies. Being 

 alone in nearly all my classes I could take as long lessons 

 as I wished and I doubt if any boy of nineteen ever 

 studied harder than I. 



