MY VINEYAKD. 13 



CHAPTER III 



GOING WEST. 



" Where shall we go ? " was the practical question 

 which first presented itself. A farm in the vicinity of our 

 native village seemed most desirable, but the prices of 

 those for sale were quite beyond our means. A tide of 

 emiojration had lonsj since commenced its flow towards the 

 West. Fabulous stories were rife of the success which 

 former residents of our quiet New England village had 

 achieved. Some had grown rich in farming, others in 

 trade, while others had become distinguished in politics. 

 Little or nothing was heard of those who remained in 

 poverty and obscurity. The inference was, that out West 

 every one must be prosperous and rich. Nevertheless, 

 uncertain stories of agues and malarious fevers were fre- 

 quently afloat. But they were usually as indefinite as the 

 region to which they referred. After a careful considera- 

 tion of the subject, taking into account our means and the 



