My mother's health, maybe her aversion to a long overseas journey, kept her at home, and very soon he tired of life abroad without her and came back.

A committee of citizens went on a steamer down the river to meet him, the wife and child along, of course, and the story was told that, seated on the paternal knee curiously observant of every detail, the brat suddenly exclaimed, "Ah ha, pa! Now you've got on your store clothes.

But when ma gets you up at Beech Grove you'll have to lay off your broadcloth and put on your jeans, like I do." Being an only child and often an invalid, I was a pet in the family and many tales were told of my infantile precocity.

On one occasion I had a fight with a little colored boy of my own age and I need not say got the worst of it.

My grandfather, who came up betimes and separated us, said, "he has blackened your eye and he shall black your boots," thereafter making me a deed to the lad.