thers as a stake to gamble with on shares. Soon I began to play.
I won and lost, but did not play to any great extent. Mr. Bogges
took me to task for gambling. He also showed me many of the
tricks of the gamblers, and I promised him to quit the practice
as soon as I got married.

In the early part of 1832 I received an affectionate letter from
my Emily, desiring me to return to her, and settle down before I
had acquired a desire for a rambling life. I then had five
hundred dollars in money and two suits of broadcloth clothing. I
was anxious to see Emily, so I settled up with Bogges & Co. and
started for home. Emily was then living at her sister's house in
Prairie de Roache; her brother-in-law, Thomas Blay, kept the
tavern there. I boarded with them about two weeks, during which
time I played cards with the Frenchman, and dealt "vantune," or
twenty-one, for them to bet at. I was lucky, but I lived fast,
and spent my money freely, and soon found that half of it was
gone.

Emily was dissatisfied with my conduct. I proposed immediate
marriage; Emily proposed to wait until the next fall, during
which time we were to prepare for housekeeping. She wished to see
if I would reform, for she had serious doubts about the propriety
of marrying a gambler. She asked me to quit gambling, and if I
had made that promise all would have been well, but I was
stubborn and proud and refused to make any promise. I thought it
was beneath my dignity. I really intended to never gamble after
my wedding, but I would not tell her so; my vanity overruled my
judgment. I said that if she had not confidence enough in me to
take me as I was, without requiring me to give such a promise, I
would never see her again until I came to ask her to my wedding.

This was cruel, and deeply wounded Emily; she burst into tears
and turned from me. I never saw her again until I went to ask her
to attend my wedding. I went up into the country and stopped with
my cousins. While there I met the bride of my youth; she was the
daughter of Joseph Woolsey and Abigail, his wife. I attended
church, went to parties and picnics, and fell in love with Agathe
Ann, the eldest girl. The old folks were op- posed to my marrying
their daughter, but after suffering the tortures and overcoming
the obstacles usual in such cases, I obtained the consent of the
girl's parents, and was married to Agathe Ann Woolsey on the 24th
day of July, A. D. 1833.

The expenses of the wedding ended