AUTOBIOGRAPHY, I9 



sented.when^ after selling my cows and receiving 

 the money, with all my fortune in my pockets, I 

 bade farewell to the parental roof and its many 

 pleasant associations, looking for the last time 

 upon the 



" Old family Bible that lay on the stand," 



and taking that decisive step by which I was to 

 become the architect of my own fortune. 



Having an uncle who resided in the town of 

 Byron, I turned my steps in that direction, and 

 for the ensuing winter found a home beneath his 

 roof. During that season I devoted myself to 

 study, attending the village school under the 

 superintendence of Mn Bennum, whom I greatly 

 esteemed, and whose many acts of kindness lin- 

 ger in my memory to the present hour. 



On the opening of spring my thoughts turned 

 towards commercial life, and I devoted my time 

 to becoming better acquainted with various busi- 

 ness avocations, intending to adopt some profit- 

 able employment. After reflecting well, I took 

 the money I had accumulated and with it pur- 



