CHAPTER IV.
YOUTHFUL EXPERIENCES.
In July, 1856, the people living in the vicinity of our home--feeling the necessity of more extensive educational facilities for their children than they had yet had--started a subscription school in a little log cabin on the bank of the creek, which for a while proved quite a success.
My mother being very anxious to have me attend this school, I acceded to her oft-repeated wishes, and returning home, I became a pupil of the institution.

I made considerable progress in my studies--such as they were--and was getting along very well in every other respect, until I became involved in my first love affair.
Like all school-boys, I had a sweetheart with whom I was "dead in love"-- in a juvenile way.

Her name was Mary Hyatt.

Of course I had a rival, Stephen Gobel, a boy about three years my senior--the "bully" of the school.

He was terribly jealous, and sought in every way to revenge himself upon me for having won the childish affections of sweet little Mary.
The boys of the school used to build play-houses or arbors among the trees and bushes for their sweethearts.