sonablysafe，unlessourguestsdecidedtoburnthecabin。
　　Theeveningseemedendless，andwascertainlynerve—racking。TheIndiansateeverythinginthehouse，andfrommyseatinadimcornerIwatchedthemwhilemysisterswaitedonthem。Icanstillseethetableautheymadeinthefirelitroomandheartheunfamiliaraccentsoftheirspeechastheytalkedtogether。Occasionallyoneofthemwouldpullahairfromhishead，seizehisscalping—knife；
　　andcutthehairwithit——amostunpleasantsight！
　　WheneitherofmysistersapproachedthemsomeoftheIndianswouldmakegestures，asifcapturingandscalpingher。Throughitall，however，thewhiskyheldtheircloseattention，anditwasduetothisthatwesucceededinreachingtheatticunob—
　　served，Jamescominglastofallanddrawingtheladderafterhim。Motherandthechildrenwerethenputtobed；butthroughthatinterminablenightJamesandEleanorlayflatuponthefloor，watchingthroughthecracksbetweentheboardstherevelsofthedrunkenIndians，whichgrewwild—
　　erwitheveryhourthatcrawledtowardsunrise。
　　Therewasnoknowingwhentheywouldmissusorhowsoontheirmoodmightchange。Atanymomenttheymightmakeanattackuponusorsetfiretothecabin。Bydawn，however，theirwhiskywasallgone，andtheywereinsodeepastuporthat，oneaftertheother，thesevenfellfromtheirchairstothefloor，wheretheysprawledun—
　　conscious。Whentheyawoketheyleftquietlyandwithouttroubleofanykind。Theyseemedastrangelysubduedandchastenedband；probablytheywerewretchedlyillaftertheirdebauchontheadulteratedwhiskythetradershadgiventhem。
　　ThatautumntheOttawatribehadagreatcorncelebration，towhichweandtheothersettlerswereinvited。Jamesandmyoldersistersattendedit，andIwentwiththem，bymyownurgentinvita—
　　tion。ItseemedtomethatasIwassharingtheworkandtheperilsofournewenvironment，I
　　mightaswellshareitsjoys；andIfinallysucceededinmakingmyfamilyseethelogicofthisposition。
　　Thecentralfeatureofthefestivitywasahugekettle，manyfeetincircumference，intowhichtheIndiansdroppedthemostextraordinaryvarietyoffoodwehadeverseencombined。Deerheadswentintoitwhole，aswellaseverykindofmeatandvegetablethemembersofthetribecouldprocure。Weallatesomeofthisagreeablemixture，andlater，withoneanother，andevenwiththeIndians，wedancedgailytothemusicofatom—tomandadrum。Theaffairwasextremelyinterestinguntilthewhiskyenteredanddiditsunpleasantwork。Whenourhostsbe—
　　gantofalloverinthedanceandslumberwheretheylay，andwhenthesquawsbegantoshowthesameilleffectsoftheirrefreshments，weunostentatiouslyslippedaway。
　　Duringthewinterlifeofferedusfewdiversionsandmanyhardships。Ourcreekfrozeover，andthewaterproblembecameaseriousone，whichwemetwithincreasingdifficultyasthetemperaturesteadilyfell。Wemeltedsnowandice，andexistedthroughthefrozenmonths，butwithanamountofdiscom—
　　fortwhichmadeusunwillingtorepeatatleastthatspecialphaseofourexperience。Inthespring，therefore，Imadeawell。Longbeforethis，Jameshadgone，andHarryandIwerenowtheonlyout—
　　doormembersofourworking—force。Harrywasstilltoosmalltohelpwiththewell；butayoungman，whohadformedtheneighborlyhabitofrid—
　　ingeighteenmilestocallonus，gavememuchfriendlyaid。Welocatedthewellwithaswitch，andwhenwehaddugasfaraswecouldreachwithourspades，myassistantdescendedintotheholeandthrewtheearthuptotheedge，fromwhichI
　　inturnremovedit。Asthewellgrewdeeperwemadeahalf—wayshelf，onwhichIstood，hethrow—
　　ingtheearthontheshelf，andIshovelingitupfromthatpoint。Later，ashedescendedstillfartherintotheholeweweremaking，heshoveledtheearthintobucketsandpassedthemuptome，Ipassingthemontomysister，whowasnowpressedintoservice。Whentheexcavationwasdeepenoughwemadethewallofslabsofwood，roughlyjoinedtogether。Irecallthatwellwithcalmcontent。Itwasnotathingofbeauty，butitwasathoroughlypracticalwell，anditremainedtheonlyonewehadduringthetwelveyearsthefamilyoccupiedthecabin。
　　Duringourfirstyeartherewasnoschoolwithintenmilesofus，butthislackfailedtosaddenHarryorme。WehadbroughtwithusfromLawrenceaboxofbooks，inwhich，inwintermonths，whenouroutdoorworkwasrestricted，wefoundmuchcomfort。Theyweretheonlybooksinthatpartofthecountry，andwereadthemuntilweknewthemallbyheart。Moreover，fathersentusregularlytheNewYorkIndependent，andwiththisadmirableliterature，afterreadingit，wepaperedourwalls。
　　Thus，onstormydays，wecouldlieonthesettleorthefloorandreadtheIndependentoveragainwithincreasedinterestandpleasure。
　　OccasionallyfathersentustheLedger，butheremotherdrewadefiniteline。Shehadaspecialdis—
　　likeforthatperiodical，andherseverestcommentonanywomanwasthatshewasthetypewhowould``keepadog，makesaleratusbiscuit，andreadtheNewYorkLedgerinthedaytime。’’OurmodestlibraryalsocontainedseveralhistoriesofGreeceandRome，whichmusthavebeengoodones，foryearslater，whenIenteredcollege，Ipassedmyexaminationinancienthistorywithnootherprep—
　　arationthanthisreading。Therewerealsoafewarithmeticsandalgebras，ahistoricalnovelortwo，andtheinevitablecopyofUncleTom’sCabin，whosepagesIhadfreelymoistenedwithmytears。
　　Whentheadvantagesofpubliceducationwerefinallyextendedtome，atthirteen，bytheopeningofaschoolthreemilesfromourhome，Iacceptedthemwithgrowingreluctance。Theteacherwasaspinsterforty—fouryearsofageandtheonlygenuine``oldmaid’’Ihaveevermetwhowasnotamarriedwomanoraman。Shewastherealthing，andhername，PrudenceDuncan，seemedthefittinglabelforherrigidlyuncompromisingpersonality。IgracedPrudence’sschoolforthreemonths，andthenleftitatherfervidrequest。IhadwalkedsixmilesadaythroughtracklesswoodsandWesternblizzardstogetwhatshecouldgiveme，butshehadlittletooffermyawakenedandcriticalmind。MyreadingandmyLawrenceschool—workhadalreadytaughtmemorethanPrudenceknew——afactwebothinwardry——admittedandfiercelyresentedfromourdifferentviewpoints。BeyonddoubtIwasapertandtryingyoungperson。IlostnoopportunitytoleadPrudencebeyondherintellectualdepthandleaveherthere，andPrudenceventedherchagrinnotaloneuponme，butuponmylittlebrother。Ibecameathorninherside，andoneday，afteranespeciallyunpleasantepisodeinwhichHarryalsofigured，shepluckedmeout，asitwere，andcastmeforeverfromher。FromthattimeIstudiedathome，whereIwasamuchmorevaluableeconomicfactorthanIhadbeeninschool。
　　ThesecondspringafterourarrivalHarryandI
　　extendedouroperationsbytappingthesugar—
　　bushes，collectingallthesap，andcarryingithomeinpailsslungfromouryoke—ladenshoulders。To—
　　getherwemadeonehundredandfiftypoundsofsugarandabarrelofsyrup，buthereagain，asal—
　　ways，weworkedinprimitiveways。Togetthesapwechoppedagashinthetreeanddroveinaspile。
　　Thenwedugoutatroughtocatchthesap。Itwasnolighttasktoliftthesetroughsfullofsapandemptythesapintobuckets，butwediditsuccess—
　　fully，andafterwardbuiltfiresandboileditdown。
　　Bythistimewehadalsoclearedsomeofourground，andduringthespringwewereabletoplow，dividingtheworkinawaythatseemedfairtousboth。
　　Thesewerestrenuousoccupationsforaboyofnineandagirlofthirteen，but，thoughwewerenotin—
　　ordinatelygoodchildren，wenevercomplained；wefoundthemverysatisfactorysubstitutesformorenormalbucolicjoys。Inevitably，wehadourlittletragedies。Ourcowdied，andforanentirewinterwewentwithoutmilk。Ourcoffeesoongaveout，andasasubstitutewemadeandusedamixtureofbrownedpeasandburntrye。Inthewinterwewerealwayscold，andthewaterproblem，untilwehadbuiltourwell，waseverwithus。
　　Fatherjoinedusattheendofeighteenmonths，butthoughhispresencegaveuspleasureandmoralsupport，hewasnotanadditiontoourexecutivestaff。Hebroughtwithhimarocking—chairformotherandanewsupplyofbooks，onwhichIfellasastarvingmanfallsuponfood。FatherreadaseagerlyasI，butmuchmoresteadily。Hismindwasalwaysbusywithproblems，andif，whilehewaslaboringinthefield，anewproblempresenteditselftohim，theimperishablecuriositythatwasinhimmadehimscurryatoncetothehousetosolveit。Ihaveknownhimtospendaplantingseasoninfiguringontheproductionofacertainnumberofkernelsofcorn，insteadofplantingthecornandraisingit。Inthewinterhewassupposedtospendhistimeclearinglandfororchardsandthelike，butinsteadheporedoverhisbooksandproblemsdayafterdayandoftenhalfthenightaswell。Itsoonbecameknownamongourneigh—
　　bors，whowererapidlyincreasinginnumber，thatwehadbooksandthatfatherliketoreadaloud，andmenwalkedtenmilesormoretospendthenightwithusandlistentohisreading。Often，ashisfamegrew，tenortwelvemenwouldarriveatourcabinonSaturdayandremainoverSunday。Whenmymotheroncetriedtocheckthisinfluxofguestsbymildlypointingout，amongotherthings，thewasteofcandlesrepresentedbyfrequentall—nightreadings，everymanhumblyappearedagainonthefollowingSaturdaywithacandleineachhand。
　　Theywerenotsensitive；and，astheyhadbroughttheircandles，itseemedfittingtothemandtofatherthatwegirlsshouldcookforthemandsupplythemwithfood。
　　Father’stoleranceofidlenessinothers，however，didnotextendtotoleranceofidlenessinus，andthisledtomyfirstrebellion，whichoccurredwhenIwasfourteen。Foronce，Ihadbeeninthewoodsallday，buriedinmybooks；andwhenIreturnedatnight，stillinthedreamworldthesebookshadopenedtome，fatherwasawaitingmycomingwithabrowdarkwithdisapproval。Asithappened，motherhadfeltthatdaysomespecialneedofme，andfatherreproachedmebitterlyforbeingbeyondreach——anidlerwhowastedtimewhilemotherlabored。HeendedalongarraignmentbypredictinggloomilythatwithsuchtendenciesIwouldmakenothingofmylife。
　　Theinjusticeofthecriticismcutdeep；IknewIhaddoneandwasdoingmyshareforthefamily，andalready，too，Ihadbeguntofeelthecallofmycareer。ForsomereasonIwantedtopreach——totalktopeople，totellthemthings。Justwhy，justwhat，Ididnotyetknow——butIhadbeguntopreachinthesilentwoods，tostanduponstumpsandaddresstheunresponsivetrees，tofeelthestirofaspirationwithinme。
　　Whenmyfatherhadfinishedallhewishedtosay，Ilookedathimandanswered，quietly，``Father，somedayIamgoingtocollege。’’
　　Icanstillseehisslight，ironicalsmile。Itdrovemetoasecondprediction。Iwasyoungenoughtomeasuresuccessbymaterialresults，soIadded，recklessly：
　　``AndbeforeIdieIshallbeworthtenthousanddollars！’’
　　Theamountstaggeredmeevenasitdroppedfrommylips。Itwasthelargestfortunemyimaginationcouldconceive，andinmyheartIbelievedthatnowomaneverhadpossessedorwouldpossesssomuch。SofarasIknew，too，nowomanhadgonetocollege。ButnowthatIhadputmysecrethopesintowords，Iwasdesperatelydeterminedtomakethosehopescometrue。AfterIbecameawage—
　　earnerIlostmydesiretomakeafortune，butthecollegedreamgrewwiththeyears；andthoughmycollegecareerseemedasremoteasthemostdistantstar，Ihitchedmylittlewagontothatstarandneverafterwardwhollylostsightofitsfriendlygleam。
　　WhenIwasfifteenyearsoldIwasofferedasitua—
　　tionasschool—teacher。Bythistimethecom—
　　munitywasgrowingarounduswiththerapiditycharacteristicoftheseWesternsettlements，andwehadnearerneighborswhosechildrenneededinstruc—
　　tion。Ipassedanexaminationbeforeaschool—
　　boardconsistingofthreenervousandself—consciousmenwhosecertificateIstillhold，andIatoncebeganmyprofessionalcareeronthemodestsalaryoftwodollarsaweekandmyboard。Theschoolwasfourmilesfrommyhome，soI``boardedround’’
　　withthefamiliesofmypupils，stayingtwoweeksineachplace，andoftenwalkingfromthreetosixmilesadaytoandfrommylittlelogschool—houseineverykindofweather。DuringthefirstyearI
　　hadaboutfourteenpupils，ofvaryingages，sizes，andtemperaments，andtherewashardlyabookintheschool—roomexceptthoseIowned。Onelittlegirl，Iremember，readfromanalmanac，whileasecondusedahymn—book。
　　Inwintertheschool—housewasheatedbyawood—
　　stove，towhichtheteacherhadtogiveclosepersonalattention。Icouldnotdependonmypupilstomakethefiresorcarryinthefuel；anditwasoftennecessarytofetchthewoodmyself，sometimesforlongdistancesthroughtheforest。Againandagain，aftermilesofwalkingthroughwinterstorms，I
　　reachedtheschool—housewithmyclothingwetthrough，andinthesesoakedgarmentsItaughtduringtheday。In``boardinground’’Ioftenfoundmyselfinone—roomcabins，withbunksattheendandthesolepartitionasheetorablanket，behindwhichIsleptwithoneortwoofthechildren。Itwasthecustomontheseoccasionsforthemanofthehousetodelicatelyretiretothebarnwhilewewomengottobed，andtodisappearagaininthemorningwhilewedressed。InsomeplacesthemealsweresobadlycookedthatIcouldnoteatthem，andoftentheonlyfoodmypoorlittlepupilsbroughttoschoolfortheirnoondaymealwasapieceofbreadorabitofrawpork。
　　Iearnedmytwodollarsaweekthatyear，butI
　　hadtowaitformywagesuntilthedogtaxwascol—
　　lectedinthespring。Whenthemoneywasthusraised，andthetwenty—sixdollarsformythirteenweeksofteachingweregraciouslyputintomyhands，Iwent``outside’’tothenearestshopandjoyouslyspentalmosttheentireamountformyfirst``partydress。’’ThegownIboughtwas，Icon—
　　sidered，abeautifulcreation。Incoloritwasarichmagenta，andtheskirtwaselaboratelybraidedwithblackcable—cord。Myadmirationforitwasjusti—
　　fied，foritdidallayounggirl’seagerheartcouldaskofanygown——itledtomyfirstproposal。
　　Theyouthwhosoughtmyhandwasabouttwentyyearsold，andbyanunhappychancehewasalsotheleastattractiveyoungpersoninthecountry—
　　side——thelaughing—stockoftheneighbors，thebuttofhisassociates。Thenighthecametooffermehishearttherewerealreadytwoyoungmenatourhomecallingonmysisters，andwewereallsittingaroundthefireintheliving—roomwhenmysuitorappeared。Hiscostume，likehimself，leftmuchtobedesired。Heworeablueflannelshirtandapairoftrousersmadeofflour—bags。Suchtrouserswerenotuncommoninourregion，andtheboy’smother，whohadmadethemforhim，hadthoughtfullyselectedanicecleanpairofsacks。Butononelegwasthenameofthefirmthatmadetheflour——A。andG。W。Green——andbyacharmingcoincidenceA。
　　andG。W。Greenhappenedtobethetwoyoungmenwhowerecallingonmysisters！Onthebackofthebags，directlyintherearofthewearer，wasthesimplelegend，``96pounds’’；andthestrikingeffectoftheyoungman’scostumewascompletedbyabrightyellowsashwhichheldhistrousersinplace。
　　Thevisionfascinatedmysistersandtheirtwoguests。Theygaveittheirentireattention，andwhenthenew—comersignifiedwithaneloquentges—
　　turethathewascallingonme，andbeckonedmeintoaninnerroom，thequartetaroseasonepersonandfollowedustothedoor。Then，asweinhospit—
　　ablyclosedthedoor，theyfastenedtheireyestothecracksintheliving—roomwall，thattheymightmissnoneoftheentertainment。WhenwewerealonemyguestandIsatdowninfacingchairsandindepressedsilence。Theyoungmanwasnervous，andIwasbothfrightenedandannoyed。Ihadheardsuppressedgigglesontheothersideofthewall，andIrealized，asmyself—centeredvisitorfailedtodo，thatwewerenotenjoyingtheprivacythesituationseemedtodemand。Atlasttheyouthin—
　　formedmethathis``dad’’hadjustgivenhimacabin，ayokeofsteers，acow，andsomehens。Whenthisannouncementhadproduceditsfulleffect，hestraightenedupinhischairandasked，solemnly，``Willyehaveme？’’
　　Anoutburstofchortlesfromtheothersideofthewallgreetedtheproposal，buttheardentyouthignoredit，ifindeedheheardit。Witheyesstaringstraightahead，hesatrigid，waitingformyanswer；
　　andI，anxiousonlytogetridofhimandtoendthestrainofthemoment，saidthefirstthingthatcameintomyhead。``Ican’t，’’Itoldhim。``I’msorry，but——but——I’mengaged。’’
　　Herosequickly，withtheeffectofahalf—closedjack—knifethatissuddenlyopened，andforanin—
　　stantstoodlookingdownuponme。Hewassixfeettwoinchestall，andextremelythin。Iamveryshort，and，asIlookedup，hisflour—bagtrousersseemedtojoinhisyellowsashsomewhereneartheceilingoftheroom。Heputbothhandsintohispocketsandslowlydeliveredhisvaledictory。``That’sdarneddis—
　　appointingtoafellow，’’hesaid，andleftthehouse。
　　AfteramomentdevotedtoregainingmymaidenlycomposureIreturnedtotheliving—room，whereI
　　hadtheprivilegeofobservingtheenjoymentofmysistersandtheirvisitors。Helplesswithmirthandwithtearsofpleasureontheircheeks，thefourrockedandshriekedastheyrecalledthepicturemygallanthadpresented。ForsometimeafterthatincidentIfeltastrongdistasteforsentiment。
　　Cladroyallyinthenewgown，IattendedmyfirstballinNovember，goingwithapartyofeightthatincludedmytwosisters，anothergirl，andfouryoungmen。TheballwasatBigRapids，whichbythistimehadgrowntobeathrivinglumbertown。Itwasimpossibletogetateamofhorsesorevenayokeofoxenforthejourney，sowemadearaftandwentdowntheriveronthat，takingourpartydresseswithusintrunks。Unfortunately，theraft``hungup’’inthestream，andthefouryoungmenhadtogetoutintotheicywaterandworkalongtimebeforetheycoulddetachitfromtherocks。Natu—
　　rally，theyweresoakedandchilledthrough，buttheyallboretheexperiencewithagayphilosophy。
　　WhenwereachedBigRapidswedressedfortheball，and，asinthosedaysitwascustomarytochangeone’sgownagainatmidnight，Ihadanop—
　　portunitytoburstontheassemblageintwocos—
　　tumes——thesecondmadeofbedroomchintz，withalowneckandshortsleeves。Wedancedthe``moneymusk，’’andthe``Virginiareel，’’``hoeingherdown’’（whichmeanschangingpartners）intruepioneerstyle。Inevermissedadanceatthisoranysubsequentaffair，andIwasconsideredthegayestandthemosttirelessyoungpersonatourpartiesuntilIbecameaMethodistministeranddroppedsuchworldlyvanities。ThefirsttimeI
　　preachedinmyhomeregionallmyformerpartnerscametohearme，andlistenedwithwide，understand—
　　ing，reminiscentsmileswhichmadeitveryhardformetokeepsoberlytomytext。
　　InthenearfutureIhadreasontoregrettheex—
　　travagantexpenditureofmyfirstearnings。Formysecondyearofteaching，inthesameschool，I
　　wastoreceivefivedollarsaweekandtopaymyownboard。Iselectedaplacetwomilesandahalffromtheschool—house，andwaspromptlyaskedbymyhosttopaymyboardinadvance。This，heex—
　　plained，wasduetonolackoffaithinme；themoneywouldenablehimtogo``outside’’towork，leavinghisfamilywellsuppliedwithprovisions。I
　　allowedhimtogototheschoolcommitteeandcol—
　　lectmyboardinadvance，attherateofthreedol—
　　larsaweekfortheseason。WhenIpresentedmyselfatmynewboarding—place，however，twodayslater，Ifoundthehousenailedupanddeserted；themanandhisfamilyhaddepartedwithmymoney，andIwasleft，asmycommitteemensympatheticallyremarked，``highanddry。’’Therewereonlytwodollarsaweekcomingtomeafterthat，soIwalkedbackandforthbetweenmyhomeandmyschool，almostfourmiles，twiceaday；andduringthisen—
　　forcedexercisetherewasampleopportunitytore—
　　flectonthefleetingjoyofriches。
　　Inthemeantimewarhadbeendeclared。WhenthenewscamethatFortSumterhadbeenfiredon，andthatLincolnhadcalledfortroops，ourmenwerethreshing。Therewasonlyonethreshing—
　　machineintheregionatthattime，anditwentfromplacetoplace，thefarmersdoingtheirthresh—
　　ingwhenevertheycouldgetthemachine。Ire—
　　memberseeingamanrideuponhorseback，shout—
　　ingoutLincoln’sdemandfortroopsandexplainingthataregimentwasbeingformedatBigRapids。
　　Beforehehadfinishedspeakingthemenonthema—
　　chinehadleapedtothegroundandrushedofftoenlist，mybrotherJack，whohadrecentlyjoinedus，amongthem。Intenminutesnotonemanwasleftinthefield。AfewmonthslatermybrotherTomenlistedasabugler——hewasamereboyatthetime——
　　andnotlongafterthatmyfatherfollowedtheexampleofhissonsandserveduntilthewarwasended。Hehadenteredonthetwenty—ninthofAugust，1862，asanarmysteward；hecamebacktouswiththerankoflieutenantandassistantsurgeonoffieldandstaff。
　　BetweenthoseyearsIwastheprincipalsupportofourfamily，andlifebecameastrenuousandtragicaffair。Formonthsatatimewehadnonewsfromthefront。Theworkinourcommunity，ifitwasdoneatall，wasdonebydespairingwomenwhoseheartswerewiththeirmen。Whencarehadbecomeourconstantguest，Deathenteredourhomeaswell。
　　MysisterEleanorhadmarried，anddiedinchildbirth，leavingherbabytome；andtheblackesthoursofthoseblackyearswerethehoursthatsawherpass—
　　ing。Icanseeherstill，lyinginastuporfromwhichsherousedherselfatintervalstoaskaboutherchild。
　　SheinsistedthatourbrotherTomshouldnamethebaby，butTomwasfightingforhiscountry，unlesshehadalreadyprecededEleanorthroughthewideportalthatwasopeningbeforeher。IcouldonlytellherthatIhadwrittentohim；butbeforetheassurancewasanhouroldshewouldclimbupfromthegulfofunconsciousnesswithinfiniteefforttoaskifwehadreceivedhisreply。Atlast，tocalmher，Itoldherithadcome，andthatTomhadchosenforherlittlesonthenameofArthur。Shesmiledatthisanddrewadeepbreath；then，stillsmiling，shepassedaway。Herbabyslippedintohervacantplaceandalmostfilledourheavyhearts，butonlyforashorttime；forwithinafewmonthsafterhismother’sdeathhisfathermarriedagainandtookhimfromme，anditseemedthatwithhisgoingwehadlostallthatmadelifeworthwhile。
　　Theproblemoflivinggrewharderwithevery—
　　day。Weekedoutourlittleincomeineverywaywecould，takingasboarderstheworkersinthelog—
　　ging—camps，makingquilts，whichwesold，andlosingnochancetoearnapennyinanylegitimatemanner。
　　Againmymotherdidsuchoutsidesewingasshecouldsecure，yetwitheverymonthofoureffortthegulfbetweenourincomeandourexpensesgrewwider，andthepriceofthebarenecessitiesofexis—
　　ence{sic}climbedupandup。ThelargestamountI
　　couldearnatteachingwassixdollarsaweek，andourschoolyearincludedonlytwotermsofthir—
　　teenweekseach。Itwasanincessantstruggletokeepourland，topayourtaxes，andtolive。Cal—
　　icowassellingatfiftycentsayard。Coffeewasonedollarapound。Therewerenomenlefttogrindourcorn，togetinourcrops，ortocareforourlivestock；andallarounduswesawourstrugglereflectedinthelivesofourneighbors。
　　Atlongintervalswordcametousofbattlesinwhichmyfather’sregiment——theTenthMichiganCavalryVolunteers——orthoseofmybrotherswereengaged，andthenlongerintervalsfollowedinwhichweheardnonews。AfterEleanor’sdeathmybrotherTomwaswounded，andformonthswelivedinterrorofworsetidings，buthefinallyrecovered。
　　Iwaswalkingsevenandeightmilesaday，anddoingextraworkbeforeandafterschoolhours，andmyhealthbegantofail。ThosewereyearsIdonotliketolookbackupon——yearsinwhichlifehadde—
　　generatedintoatreadmillwhosemonotonywasbrokenonlybythegrimmessagesfromthefront。
　　MysisterMarymarriedandwenttoBigRapidstolive。Ihadnotimetodreammydream，butthestarofmyonepurposestillglowedinmydarkhorizon。
　　Itseemedthatnothingshortofamiraclecouldliftmyfeetfromtheirploddingwayandsetthemonthewiderpathtowardwhichmyeyeswereturned，butIneverlostfaiththatinsomemannerthemiraclewouldcometopass。AscertainlyasIhaveeverknownanything，IKNEWthatIwasgoingtocollege！
　　III