When all was ready, we put the boat on a wagon and were to haul it to the river some eight miles away for embarkation.

After getting the wagon loaded, father said to me;--"Now my son, you are starting out in life alone, no one to watch or look after you.

You will have to depend upon yourself in all things.

You have a wide, wide world to operate in--you will meet all kinds of people and you must not expect to find them all honest or true friends.

You are limited in money, and all I can do for you in that way is to let you have what ready money I have." He handed me three dollars as he spoke, which added to my own gave me seven dollars as my money capital with which to start out into the world among perfect strangers, and no acquaintances in prospect on our Western course.
When ready to start, mother and sister Poll came out to see us off and to give us their best wishes, hoping we would have good health, and find pleasant paths to follow.