46 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF 



j'liiriKiy. And so, my sun, if you don'l wiiiit lo si'iid your 

 old mother's gray hairs to the grave, k't that trip alone, 

 and let General Biggs get hands where he can. Every 

 poor fellow that goes with him will wish hiniseir at home 

 long before he gets there again. It would have been 

 much better if you had not come to see me at all, than to 

 stay with me only two weeks, and then go out into the wil- 

 derness, where your flesh will feed the wolves, and your 

 bones soon lie bleaching on the ground." 



At that time a young man named Francis Dudd and his 

 wife were boarding with my father and mother. Francis 

 was working for an old gentleman in Wheeling, by the 

 name of John Caldwell, who paid him ten dollars a month. 

 lie joined with my mother and her friends, and succeeded 

 in getting me to abandon ray surveying trip. 



The next Saturday there was a parade in West Lilierty, 

 a small village within two miles of our residence, and Cald- 

 well was going there to seek hands. Francis and I went 

 there together to see Mi*. Caldwell, when we met him in 

 the town, and I made a bargain with him for ten dollars u 

 month and my board. On returning home, my mother was 

 much rejoiced to hear that I had given up my trip with the 

 surveyors ; and it was decided that I should go down to 

 Wheeling with Francis Dodd. 



The afternoon of the next day, which was Sunday, we 

 sex^<iut for that town, distant fifteen miles, and reached it 

 after dar^, having traveled through mud up to our ankles. 

 I had but little opportunity to see where I was going ; but 

 at length we found Mr. Caldwell's house, in whieh were 

 several travelers, together witli the family, consisting of 

 Mr. Caldwell, his wife, and seven children. 



We had no share in the lught's chatting, which was car- 

 ried on betweei the lady, Mr. Caldwell, and the travellers. 

 Being tired, Mi Dodd and myself retired earl/, and were 

 Boon ffst asleej). 



