to Pike's Peak
for gold. Nearly every day the streets would be full of covered
wagons bound for Pike's Peak. I noticed on one wagon written in
great red letters, "Hastings, bound for Pike's Peak or Hell." It was
the noon hour, and I said to the other boys, "There is a Hastings in
this crowd, and I am going to find him." I went into a grocery store
where many of them were buying provisions. I soon picked him out, a
tall good looking fellow, then besides he swore a great deal which
tallied with what I saw on the wagon, so I stepped up to him and
said, "Is your name Hastings?" He answered with an oath that it was.
I said to him, "I see from what is written on your wagon that you are
bound for Pike's Peak or Hell." Without waiting for him to reply, I
further said, "I think from the way you are going, and the way you
talk, you will probably get to both places." At first he looked like
he was going to hit me, and then he smiled and said, "You don't
swear?" I said, "No, nor do I think you ought to swear." He said,
"Probably I ought not."

Then I told him my name was Hastings too. He shook hands with me and
we had quite a visit. But he swore no more in my presence. We could
trace no kinship, and I was a little glad of it. I do not think any
man is totally depraved, but some are very nearly so. There is less
excuse for swearing than almost any other sin.

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C H A P T E R S I X

Conversion. First sermon. Funerals and Weddings.

From my earliest childhood I have attended Sunday Schools and church
services. I have believed that God is, that Jesus Christ is the son,
and that the Bible is true. Years before I became a Christian I had
desired to be such and worship God with other Christians. But I did
not know which church to join. Mother said, read the Bible and
learn. One leader said do this, another said do that. No two
agreed. I did not know what to do to become one among the
Christians. I prayed to God but if God spake to me in an audible
voice I did not know it. But these thoughts ran through my mind. I
believe and that far is all right, because the Bible so teaches and
so do all the churches. It ran through my mind that I ought to tell
somebody else besides God that I believe, so one day I went down
town, where there were quite a number of people worshipping God, and
they said they were Christians. I said I believe too, and publicly
confessed and told all the men that I believed