, after he had finished his preparatory, course of
study and entered college, he subsisted wholly on a certain quantity of
bread daily; and as if not quite satisfied with even this restriction,
while he needed his money so much more for clothing and books, he
purchased stale bread--sometimes that which was imperfect--at a cheaper
rate. Now a diet, exclusively of fine flour bread, and withal more or
less sour or mouldy, is not very suitable for a dyspeptic, nor yet,
indeed, for anybody whatever. However, he learned, at length, to improve
a little upon this, by purchasing coarse, or Graham bread.

Subsequently to this period, not being able, either alone or with the
aid of friends, most of whom were poor, to pursue a regular academic
course of instruction, he accepted the proposition that he should become
an assistant teacher in the English department of a school in Europe.
This, he feared, might postpone the completion of his studies, but would
enable him, as he believed, to improve his mind, establish his health,
and add greatly to his experience and to his knowledge of the world. It
would also perfect him in teaching, so far at least as the mere
inculcation of English grammar was concerned.

His health was by no means improved by a residence of three or four
years in Europe, but rather impaired. He returned to America, in the
autumn of 1839, and as soon as he had partially recovered from the
effects of a tedious and dangerous voyage, went to reside in the family
of a near relative who was a farmer, with a view to learn, for the first
time, what the labors of the farm would do for him.

Here he often resorted to the same rigid economy which he had before
practised, both at academy and college, and in Europe. The very best
living he would allow himself was a diet exclusively of small
potatoes--those, I mean, from which the larger ones had been separated
for the use of others.

This, his dyspeptic stomach would not long endure. His digestive and
nervous systems both became considerably deranged; and even his skin,
sympathizing with the diseased lining membrane of his stomach and
intestines, became the seat of very painful boils and troublesome sores.
These, while they indicated still deeper if not more troublesome
disease, gave one encouraging indication--that the recuperative powers
of the system were not as yet irrecoverably prostrated.

He now came to me and begged to become my patient, and to reside
permanently u