nt to bed, I put my boots and clothes where
I supposed I could easily find them the next morning, but when
morning came I could find everything except the boots. I found, in
the place where I had left the boots, an old pair of slippers. (The
slippers were nice and clean, however.) I thought some scamp had
stolen my boots, and left for me his slippers. I did not know what
to do. I was afraid to wear the slippers lest someone would accuse
me of stealing them. But I finally dared to put them on and step
into the cabin parlor and at the far end I saw fifty or more pairs of
boots, and all well cleaned and blackened. I shyly approached a big
black man who was sitting by the boots and dare to ask him if he had
my boots there. He said, "What's de number, please?" I said,
"Number seven." "Yes sir" he said and picked out a pair for me. (I
noticed by this time that all the boots were numbered with chalk.) I
saw at once that the boots he picked out were not mine, and said,
"These are not my boots." "Dat's number seven, sir, de number of
your berth." I said, "You are mistaken, my birth is the 15th of
March." "O dat so." "Your number fifteen," said he, and picked up
the boots chalk marked 15. They were my boots. I took them and
started to walk back with them in my hand to my berth, the number of
which was 15. The negro said, "Say, mister, I usually get a dime."
I said, "Excuse me,", and paid him a dime.

Do you see, boys? Yes, we see that the boy who afterwards became our
father was green. Of course, I was green. All things are green
before they are ripe.

In the next day or two we landed at Lagrange, Missouri, a small town
above Quincy, Ill. There the doctor had two horses and a buggy. The
doctor, his wife and boy rode in the buggy, driving one horse, and I
rode the other horse, and in this fashion we made our way westward
for four days, passing through the towns of Lewiston, Edina,
Kirksville, Scottsville, until we arrived at Lindley, a small town on
Medicine Creek in Grunday County.

The afternoon of the first day of the four days referred to above,
was cold and stormy. So I rode in advance, inquiring at every house
for lodging for our company, but was denied. I passed one house
however--it looked so small I thought there would not be room enough
for all, but the doctor called when he came to it, and received a
favorable answer. I turned back and the man said, "I have plenty for
your horses to eat, b