A H n N T KR'8 LIFE. 35 



" So you have left John, have you ? " 



" Yes, sir. Uncle John is a good, kind man, but he is 

 doing nothing for himself ; and I can never do anything 

 while I stay with him." 



" That is true, Meshach ; but what do you intend to go 

 at, as you have no learning?" 



" I cannot tell you, uncle, till 1 get there ; and then 

 whoever gives me the best wages I will work for." 



"And how long will it take you to get to Wheeling ? " 



" I do not know, sir ; for my feet were frozen so badly 

 last week that I can't walk fast. But I have allowed my- 

 self four days at the outside. That is twenty miles a day ; 

 and if my feet do not get worse I can do it in three." 



" How much money have you ?" 



" One dollar, sir." 



"And do you think to get to Wheeling with one dollai, 

 l)oy ? " 



" I don't know, sir; but I have this buckskin," — show- 

 ing him the skin, — " and intend to sell that in Union 

 Town for what it will bring ; and it ought to be worth 

 seventy-five cents, at any rate. I think that will take me 

 there ; and if it does not, I will turn out in the country 

 and work a day or two, and then go on again." 



" Well, Meshach," said he, " I will give you my advice 

 if you will promise me to take it, and attend to it." 



" That I will promise you to do, sir ; for I know I stand 

 in need of good counsel." 



" Then," said he, " be sure to avoid bad company ; avoid 

 all drunken crowds of rowdies and houses of ill-fame. 

 Never suffer yourself to be drawn into them, for you will 

 be tried often. And when these temptations appear be- 

 fore you, then remember what I now tell you, and avoid 

 them. Furthermore," he continued, " when you find a 

 man who wishes to hire you, ascertain, if you can, whether 

 be is honest ; and if so, go to him, and do for him a just 



