BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 17 



over, he would go back and drive theirs over or up, as 

 the case might be, by only taking the reins in his hands 

 and talking to them; for, if the whip had not already 

 been worn up on them, he would lay it aside and be 

 careful not to let them see it. And sometimes, when he 

 found it necessary, he might be seen on the back of one, 

 perhaps whistling while they were drawing the load 

 along. 



He was the plow-boy at home, and was allowed to do 

 most of the team work, for he always managed the horses 

 well, and did the work up in a farmer-like manner. He 

 chose to go with the team rather than do anything else, 

 as this afforded him all the sport he needed, aside from 

 the work there was to be done. I well recoilect dining 

 at his father's house shortly after he had visited a circus. 

 The family were in waiting for him, when they were 

 startled by seeing the horses he had been plowing with 

 coming at the top of their speed some fifty rods distant, 

 and young Jim (not yet old Jim) standing straight up 

 with a foot on the back of each. As the horses reached 

 the stable, to the joy of his mother and others who wit- 

 nessed the feat, he leaped from off their backs unhurt, 

 and, what was more astonishing to behold, there was 

 nothing on either horse save the bare halters, the ends of. 

 which he held in one hand as they were drawn up be- 

 tween the necks of the horses. 



I cannot forbear relating another feat of his to which 

 I was an eye-witness, and which I deem worthy of note 

 for its highly amusing character. It goes to show that 

 he possessed remarkable powers of imitation, combined 



