ys found a ready market. As we worked we talked of what we would buy
with the money and making plans for the future. The nuts we sold usually
brought us: chestnuts one dollar a bushel; walnuts fifty cents, and
hickory nuts fifty cents a bushel. This money added to the proceeds of
the crop netted us quite a nice sum and made our condition much better,
but I assure you, dear readers, it took hard work from morning to night
to make both ends meet but with the help of God we made them meet, and
during this time we were always healthy and the knowledge that we were
free and working for ourselves gave us courage to continue the struggle.
It was about this time that I commenced thinking about going west.
[Illustration: We Go to Market]
[Illustration: I Win a Horse in a Raffle]
I wanted to see more of the world and as I began to realize there was so
much more of the world than what I had seen, the desire to go grew on me
from day to day. It was hard to think of leaving mother and the
children, but freedom is sweet and I wanted to make more of the
opportunity and my life than I could see possible around home. Besides I
suppose, I was a little selfish as mortals are prone to be. Finally the
desire to go out in the world grew so strong that I mentioned it to
mother, but she did not give me much encouragement, and I don't think
she thought I had the courage to go, and besides I had neither clothing
or money and to tell the truth, the outlook was discouraging even to me,
but I continued to look for an opportunity which happened in a very
unexpected manner shortly after. One day a man by the name of Johnson
announced that he would raffle a fine beautiful horse at fifty cents a
chance. I heard of it at once, but had no money with which to get a
chance. However, when there's a will there's a way, so I went to the
barn and caught two chickens which I sold for fifty cents and at once
got a chance. My chance won the horse. Mr. Johnson said he would give me
fifty dollars for the horse and as I needed the money more than the
horse I sold the horse back. Mr. Johnson at once raffled him off again
and again I won the horse, which I again sold for fifty dollars. With
nearly a hundred dollars I went home and told mother of what I had done
and gave her half of the money, telling her I would take the other
half and go out in the world and try and better my condition. I then
went to town and bought some underwear and other needful articles,
in
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