olution was at length made; and no sooner made than begun to be
executed. The public houses on the way were miserable things; but they
were better far than none.

They gave me a temporary home, such as it was. I reached the
institution, had a partial view of it, and, half worn out with my week's
labor, was glad to rest the seventh day, "according to the
commandment," in the house of an old acquaintance.

Monday morning came, and with the aid of the intervening Sabbath,
brought to my attenuated and almost sinking frame a new recruit of
strength. With a new object of interest some fifteen miles distant, I
was once more on the road. I could now walk several miles a day without
greatly increasing my cough, or ride in a stage coach many miles. Nor
was the nightly perspiration, nor even that which was induced by
exercise, any more distressing than it had been, if indeed it was as
much so.

In due time I reached my point of destination, and curiosity became
fully gratified. What next? A few miles distant was a high mountain
which I greatly desired to climb. I reached its base; but the heat was
great, so dog-days like, that my courage failed me. I had the necessary
strength, but dared not use it for such a purpose. Perhaps I acted
wisely.

Twelve miles in the distance still was my father's house, now grown from
a few patrimonial acres to full New England size; viz., a hundred acres
or more, and well cultivated. My wandering abroad had given me a little
strength and very much courage. Why should it not? Was it not truly
encouraging that while I was making a long excursion, chiefly on foot,
in the heats of midsummer, my cough and hectic and night sweats should
become no worse, while my muscular strength had very much increased?

My mind's eye turned towards my father's house as a place of refuge. In
a day or two I was in it; and in another day or two I was caparisoned as
a laborer, and in the field. It is true that I did not at first
accomplish a great deal; but I held the implements of husbandry in my
hands, and spent a certain number of hours every day in attempting to
work. Some of the workmen laughed about me, and spoke of the vast
benefits to be derived from having a ghost in the field with them; but I
held on in spite of their jokes. I had been accustomed of old to the
labor of a farm, which greatly facilitated my efforts. Habit is
powerful.

Not many weeks passed ere I was able to perform half a day's work or
more