Then the husband will explain that they found the poor lad half dead in a ditch by the side of the road, and that they took him home, and did what they could for him; and will add, this was in the beginning of September, 1856.

You will offer to read him your description of the lad, but he will volunteer his own, which you will find exactly to tally with the one you have.

Then Lorgelin will tell you what an excellent lad he was, and how the farm seemed quite another place as long as he remained there.

All the family will join in singing his praises--he was so good-tempered, so obliging, and at thirteen he could write like a lawyer's clerk.

And then they will produce some of his writing in an old copy book.