28 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OP 



she would give me ; and it was so ; for from that time, 

 being determined to stay no longer with them, 1 began to 

 think of going to the West. Bat the tug was to leave my 

 little Mary, who was then growing into womanhood very 

 fast. 



After a struggle of two or three weeks, I came to the 

 conclusion that Mary McMullen could not leave her home 

 to go with one who had not a dollar, and that she and I 

 were altogether too young to marry. Yet I determined to 

 see her, and let her know my whole intention. Accord- 

 ingly, the old man being from home, I spent one sweet 

 evening in social chat, and told her all I intended to do. 

 She tried to keep a firm countenance, but I saw clearly 

 that she felt as much at heart as I did ; for when I took 

 her hand, perhaps for a last farewell, I saw her soft, rising 

 bosom swell with emotion, as she said, " Good-bye, Me- 

 shach ; I wish you good luck, and a safe and speedy re- 

 turn ;" for I had told her that, could I make money to 

 keep me along right well, I would come back, some time 

 or other, to see all my friends again. So saying, we parted 

 for that night, with the promise to see each other again 

 before I took my leave of her and all my other acquaint- 

 ances in Allegany. I staid all night, as I was assured 

 the old gentleman would not return during that time. I 

 slept but little, thinking of my adventurous undertaking. 

 The next morning, at breakfast, the day of my departure 

 was spoken of, when I named the second day after ; which 

 was objected to by Mary, because it was Friday, and was 

 said to be an unlucky day to commence any important 

 business. She said she thought my leaving my native re- 

 sidence to go into a strange country was of the highest 

 importance ; and I imagined I could see in her counte- 

 nance strong emotions of the heart — for she very soon left 

 the table and went into the kitchen. I made a light break- 

 fast, too ; and w^en Mary returned it was agreed that the 



