BY JOHN HENRY STANDIFIRD
FROM THE JOURNAL OF JOHN HENRY STANDIFIRD
      I stayed with my parents until I was nearly fifteen years old, when I allowed my imagination to lead me away. I shall relate the following to show what foolish imagination and wrong ideas are sometimes impressed on the mind of the youth and how easily they may be led away by associates who are headstrong and disobedient. Now in my mature years I realize and appreciate the blessings of kind parents and the anxiety they had for me when I was a child. Through the influence, partially, of a cousin, David William Stovall, I became dissatisfied with home father, mother, brothers and sisters and thought I could do far better and receive more kindness among strangers than at home. It was, I think, in March or April 1846, that cousin David and I left home to seek our fortune among strangers. Mere boys we were, with not a sign of a beard, and inexperienced in the ways of the world. The first day we walked 20 miles and stayed that night with an acquaintance, Walter Parish, at Staples Mill in Lewis county, one mile west of Monticello, Ill.
     David had left home with 80 cents and I had no money at all. After breakfast the next morning I began to realize more my situation. The fact that I had given up my home and loved ones for strangers began to work on my feelings and I tried to persuade David to return home but he refused. The next morning, which was Monday, we set out for Canton, Ill., on the Mississippi River. We did not succeed in getting employment, although we had an offer of three dollars a month. That was so far below what we had anticipated that we did not accept it. We passed on through Canton and Tulley, about a mile above the river. Discouraged with our prospects and tired of it all already, I insisted that we should go home and finally we decided that home was the best place for boys and that we would return and be satisfied with it. We were about two miles out of town when Father and Chris Widner overtook us. Father asked us where we were going and we answered that we were going home. He said, ``You are fine boys.''
     We stayed that night in Canton with William Widner. The next morning we went aboard the first steam boat that I was ever in and it was quite a curiosity to me. At first I was very much ashamed of my course, but Father was kind and I felt that he had forgiven me and I soon felt better. On Tuesday night we reached home and I was pleased to be there.

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Surprised in Church
George Phineous Hatch surprises his wife, Dora, by naming their 11th child Quola Mae.