CHILDHOOD AND EDUCATION 27 



The advocacy of his sister Sarah and opportunities 

 during the summer vacation to talk the matter over 

 face to face, led to a modification of Mr. Abner A. 

 Johnson's views. In October, Samuel, as indicated in 

 the following letter, was in receipt of an allowance 

 from his father and was again at work in the Yale 

 Analytical Laboratory. 



(S. W. J. TO A. A. J.) 



-Tis in vain! What eloquence can fitly introduce the 

 subject? How can I make it pleasant. I resign myself to 

 Fate and Destiny. I write for money! What ! the boy ! 

 He had enough he said. He promised to economize. Why 

 does he want more ? Softly Earth is trial ground, none are 

 secure from misfortune. On my return here my India 

 Rubbers were gone, couldn't be found, none knew of them. 

 I left them in my room. They were doubtless carried off by 

 mistake, ($1.50). I thought to let the matter rest, and shed 

 no tears for the scows wherein I was wont to navigate the wet 

 and slush of New Haven Winter. But this was not all. I 

 labored industriously at my business. Poor unfortunate! 

 A vessel whose thickness could not be measured broke from 

 the weight of its contents. A cascade of corrosive acid went 

 over my breeches and boots, they were saved, the boots per- 

 ished. My new boots, my only. They have now "no music in 

 their sole" and the uppers have "give out." (To replace 

 them here $4.00 or less.) My room which I engaged last 

 term was very comfortable and small. A friend from Flush- 

 ing Inst., a nice young man Ezequiel Uricoechea of Bogota, 

 New Granada, S. A. at my instance enters this depart- 

 ment one week hence. An opportunity presented for ex- 

 changing my room for one that would hold us both, furnished 

 with a nice new carpet worth $16.00, my half $8.00. My old 

 rent was $24.00, my present (1/2 the whole) $12 1/21 thus 

 save 11.00 rent and pay 8.00 for carpet $3.00 is thus saved 



