The point is that all the chemistry of my healthy, normal body drove me away from alcohol.

The stuff didn't agree with me.

It was abominable.

But, despite this, circumstance was to continue to drive me toward John Barleycorn, to drive me again and again, until, after long years, the time should come when I would look up John Barleycorn in every haunt of men--look him up and hail him gladly as benefactor and friend.

And detest and hate him all the time.