my night's lodging, and I was requested, if ever convenient, to stop with them again.
Another incident, but not so pleasant, came vividly to mind. That was then a sparsely settled country, and between Nineveh and Unionville there was a space where one traveled many miles without seeing a house. The time I made the trip to Unionville on horseback, on starting back to Macon I knew it would take till noon to reach the last house to pass before entering that uninhabited part, so I had decided to stop at that house, have my horse fed and get my dinner. A short turn in the road brought me within a few yards of the house, just then I heard a masculine voice, in a very angry tone cry, "You Sal." Just then a nice looking woman, with long, black, wavy hair came running out of the house, and a large, rough looking man after her. She got about half way across the yard when he caught her by the hair, jerked her down, and began to beat her. I thought, "I will not stand that." I reigned my horse in and was just in the act of dismounting, when, I suppose he discovered my presence. He straightened up and looked at me in a daring manner. Neither of us spoke but I sized him up. He was about twice my bulk. If I had been armed with David's sling and one of his pebbles I might have tried him a round. As it was, however, I thought, a boy has no business with you. I reigned my horse to the middle of the road, and without speaking rode on. I did without dinner. I was sorry for my horse, and I was sorry for that woman, and for that man. I thought, "Can it be that such have an offspring, or ever will have? What good could be expected of the offspring of such! Is it not from such that the inmates for our county and state prisons come?" I wished afterwards that I had pleasantly spoken to them, got the man to feed my horse, and the woman to prepare me some dinner, and then paid each well for what they did, and tried, without any reference to their domestic troubles, to give them a lesson on the subject of human kindness, and the law of love.
While in Unionville I determined to abandon the idea of going to California, and determined to study medicine, with the idea of being an M. D. With that in view I gave all my spare moments to that study. I often sought solitude, and even before the beginning of my complete orphanage, I was wont to visit the closet or secret grove, and implore the divine protection and guidance. After a deliberate weighing of the matter I concluded that the position of a physician would not suit me.
Having now all my effects in Macon county, and being undecided, as to a calling for life, and not wishing to be idle I hired to work in the saddle and harness shop in Bloomington, Missouri. I had not, however, been there but a few weeks when I determined to go to Texas. Some of my connection were preparing to go there, and some of them that were in Texas were writing and urging me to come there. All was in readiness to start, when, in spite of my inclinations, the conclusion was reached that the change would not suit me. I then applied for a district school near College Mound, Macon County, Mo. The school was given me without hesitation.
