He got ready a complete outfit and started with quite a party.

After proceeding a few miles, all but my father, and greatly to his disappointment, changed their minds for some reason and abandoned the enterprise.

They all returned home, and soon afterwards father moved his family out to Walnut Grove Farm, in Scott county.
[Illustration: YOUTHFUL ADVENTURES.] While living there I was sent to school, more for the purpose of being kept out of mischief than to learn anything.

Much of my time was spent in trapping quails, which were very plentiful.

I greatly enjoyed studying the habits of the little birds, and in devising traps to take them in.