boys and we would hide our
books until closing-time. If any boy was sent to my home with a note, I
would see that boy and tell him if he went he knew what he would get. He
knew it meant a good punching, and he would not go. I would write a note
so that the boy could take it back to the teacher saying that I was sick
and would be at school when I got better.

I remember how I was found out one time. We met as usual--the
hookey-players, I mean--and started down to the Hackensack River to have
a good day. Little did I know what would happen before the day was
over. One of the boys with us went out beyond his depth and was drowned.
I can still hear his cries and see his face as he sank for the last
lime. We all could swim a little, and we tried our best to save him, but
his time had come.

That wound up his hookey-playing, and you would think it would make me
stop too; but no, I went right along sowing the seed, and planting it
good and deep for the Devil.

I recollect the first time I went away from home. It happened this way:
The teacher got tired of receiving notes saying I was sick, and she
determined to see for herself--for I had a lady for teacher in that
class--what the trouble was.

One afternoon whom should I see coming in the gate but my teacher, and
now I was in a fix for fair. I knew if she saw mother it was all up with
me, so I ran and met her and told her mother was out and would not be
back until late. She asked me how I was getting on. I said I was better
and would be at school in the morning. She said, "I am glad of that."

When she turned to go I could have flung my cap in the air and shouted.
I thought I had fooled her and could go on playing hookey, but you know
the old adage, "There's many a slip." Just at this time my mother looked
out of the window and asked who was there and what she wanted. Well,
mother came down, and things were made straight as far as she and the
teacher were concerned; but I was in for it; I knew that by the way
mother looked at me. The jig was up, I was found out, and I knew things
would happen; and I did not want to be around when mother said, "You
just wait!" I knew what that meant, so I determined to go out into the
world and make my own way.

I was a little over thirteen years of age, and you know a boy does not
know much at that age, but I thought I did. I went over the fence with
mother after me. If dad had been home I guess he could have caught me,
that is if he h