n the neighborhood lent their
aid to the outcry, and everybody was convinced that ruffians had
robbed Howe's orchard.

I suppose it will never occur that a generation of boys will not
do these things. At seventy-two I know it was wrong. At thirteen
I thought it was fun.

I now recall many pleasing memories of what occurred in the two
years "at home" at that period when the life of a boy is beginning
to open to the future. It is the period of greatest danger and
highest hope. At that time, 1835 to 1837, everybody was prosperous.
The development created by our system of canals had opened markets
for our produce. The public national debt had been paid. The pet
banks chartered after the destruction of the Bank of the United
States started upon a wild scheme of inflation. A craze to purchase
public land created an overflowing revenue. All causes combining
created a deceptive prosperity that could end only in one way.
All this was Greek to me. All I wanted, and the controlling wish
of my life, was to help mother. She was always kind, loving and
forbearing. No word of reproach ever fell from her lips to me.
She was the same to all her children, but if there was any difference,
or favor, it was for me. Even at that early age I had day dreams
for the future, and mother was the central picture. If fortunes
could be made by others why could I not make one! I wished I was
a man. It began to appear to me that I could not wait to go through
college. What were Latin and Greek to me, when they would delay
me in making my fortune!

Near the close of 1836 I wrote to my brother Charles at Mansfield,
asking him to get me employment. He discouraged me and said I
should stick to my studies, but I insisted that I was strong and
could make my own living. At this time Ohio had decided upon the
improvement of the Muskingum River from Zanesville to Marietta,
and the Board of Public Works had selected Colonel Samuel R. Curtis,
a graduate of West Point, as chief engineer. He was a brother of
Mr. Curtis, of Mount Vernon, and a friend of our family.

Charles had no difficulty in securing me employment as junior rodman
if, at the age of fourteen, I could perform the duties requed,--
which Colonel Curtis doubted. The work was not to commence until
the spring, when I was to be given a trial. I worked hard that
winter, for hard work, I thought, was the way to fortune. I studied
the mode of leveling. I saw a man on the Hocking