stest runner on their side. How I did
like that game! We then tossed to see who would be the outs and who
would chase the outs, and many's the mile we boys would run. We would be
late for school and would be kept in after three o'clock; that would
break my heart, but I would forget all about it the next day and do the
same thing again.

Our teacher, J. W. Wakeman--God bless him!--is living yet, and I hope he
will live a good many years more. A boy doesn't always like his teacher,
and I was no exception; I did not like him very much. He gave me more
whippings than any other boy in the school. All the learning I received
was, you might say, pounded into me. He used to say to me, "David, why
don't you be good and study your lessons? There is the making of a man
in you, but if you don't study you will be fit for nothing else than the
pick and shovel." How those words rang in my ears many a time in after
years when they came true, when I had to use the pick and shovel! I am
not saying anything against that sort of labor; it has its place. We
must fill in somewhere, in some groove, but that was not mine.

How I did enjoy in after years, when I was roaming over the world,
thinking of my old schoolmates! I could name over a dozen who were
filling positions of trust in their own city; lawyers, surrogates,
judges, and some in business for themselves, making a name and doing
something, while I was no earthly use to myself or to any one else. Some
people say, "Such is life; as you make your bed so you must lie." How
true it was in my case! I made my bed and had to lie on it, but I can
truthfully say I did not enjoy it.

There are many men that are down and out now who had a chance to be
splendid men. They are now on the Bowery "carrying the banner"--which
means walking the streets without a place to call home--without food or
shelter, but they could, if they looked back to their early life, see
that they were making their beds then, or as the Bible reads, sowing the
seed. Listen, young people, and take heed. Don't believe the saying, "A
fellow must sow his wild oats." The truth is just this: as you sow so
shall you reap. I was sowing when I was drinking out of the pail of
beer, and I surely did reap the drunkard's portion--misery.

A TRUANT

I was a great hand at playing hookey--that is, staying away from school
and not telling your parents. I would start for school in the morning,
but instead of going would meet a couple of