r his age and always
was the picture of health. We all lived in a one-room cabin and there
were three beds in it, besides it was the kitchen and dining-room as
well. My aunt and her daughter wanted me to sleep at nights with their
boy, but he objected, so I would not force myself upon him. I asked them
to give me one or two old quilts and I would spread these upon the floor
of the cabin at night for my bed. I would get up early and roll them up
and store them away in some dark corner of the cabin until the next
night. I slept in this manner for several years.

After I had been at home for several months and my condition did not
improve, my aunt went about begging people for nickels and dimes to take
me to the local physician. I think she raised about three dollars in
this way and succeeded in getting a doctor to treat me, but he gave my
aunt to understand that she had to pay cash for each treatment.

I shall never forget one Sunday when a great many of the neighbors came
to our home, they began telling my aunt what they would do with me if
they were in her place. At the time I was in the back-yard watching the
chicks. Some one said that she should send me to the poorhouse, others
said that she had done so much for me, it was time that some of my other
people should take me and share in the burden, while others said that I
should be driven away and go wherever I could find shelter. I was so
offended at hearing this that I hobbled down the hill and there under a
pine tree, which now stands, I prayed for an hour or more for God to let
me die. After this prayer I lay down, folded my arms and closed my eyes,
to see if my prayer would be answered. After waiting for awhile I
finally decided to get up and I felt better then than I had felt for
several months. I have made many prayers since then, but never since
have I prayed to die.

None of the solicitations and advices from our good friends could change
my aunt's attitude towards me. In fact, she was more determined now than
ever to care for me. The next year she rented a little patch and worked
it as best she could and that fall she cleared a little money. As the
local physician had done me no good, she took me to Dr. George Keyser
who lived in the town of Richmond, eight or ten miles away. Dr. Keyser
had the reputation of being the best physician in that section of the
state and people would come for twenty-five and thirty miles around to
be treated by him. But we had als