BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 13 



fairly launched on the ocean of life, he engages in specu- 

 lation, thinking it might be more remunerative than his 

 farmer labors. But he has often strove to accumulate 

 money for the pleasure it gave him in doing so, as from 

 necessity, though he may sometimes have been straight- 

 ened to obtain a sufficient sum to meet his present de- 

 mands. He generally, however, contrived some way to 

 take on board enough ballast to counterbalance the sail 

 he gave to the barge. 



For a time he was very successful in his new occupa- 

 tion, when he came very near losing all, which was ac- 

 complished by a trio of black-coated villains, assisted by 

 one of the legal profession, whose heart was blacker than 

 his coat. This put a damper on his operations for the 

 time being, it is true, but his ever hopeful heart was not 

 to be crushed out in this way. Nor could he be induced 

 to join these scamps for the sake of repairing his fortune 

 (as offers were made him to this effect), but he did not 

 despair. He never hoisted the black flag in his life, but 

 left the work of repentance and punishment to whom it 

 belonged. He only had to fall back to his former pur- 

 suits of industry and economy, to soon wipe out his in- 

 debtedness brought about by the heartless scoundrels, and 

 preserve his integrity, which was never questioned by 

 those who knew him best. 



He was temperate in prosperity, resolute and untiring 

 in adversity, which, to say the least, is a part of a great 

 mind. By thus squaring tfie yards and bracing the sails 

 (as he soon learned to do) of his little boat, that he first 

 started with down the grassy borders of the little stream, 

 it has at length grown to a middle sized ship, compared 



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