his destiny as the aborigines had theirs before him. The Very family
escaped the horrors of battle, massacre and captivity. They settled on
a site of great natural beauty in Lincoln County, near the Tennessee
line.

While the physical surroundings of the Verys were fairly entrancing, we
are sorry to confess that the moral environment was anything but
elevating and desirable. In fact the neighborhood was considered one of
the worst in all the newly settled country. It received the name of
Rogues' Harbor and well deserved the title. Many of the settlers had
committed crimes in the Eastern States and had fled to the wilderness
to escape punishment. They composed a majority of the people of the
district, and when arrested for breaking the law swore one another
clear in the courts of justice. At last the respectable people combined
for their own protection in an organization called the Regulators.
Several bloody encounters took place between the Regulators and the
outlaws before order was established in the community.

Jasper Very was a lively youngster from the start, and surely Rogues'
Harbor was not the best place in which to bring up a vigorous and
vivacious boy. He early showed elements of power and leadership, having
a remarkably strong and well developed body, being a stranger to fear,
a wit and a wag, and loving the rude sports and pastimes of the period.
Apart from the home there were few opportunities for mental or
religious training. Schools were few and scarcely worthy of the name.
No newspapers were published in that section. Sunday was a day set
apart for hunting, fishing, horse-racing, card-playing, dancing and
other amusements.

It is little wonder that Jasper became a wild and wicked boy. He was a
leader among his fellows in the rough sports of the time. His father
gave him a race-horse and he became renowned among his companions for
fearless riding. At card-playing he was skillful and lucky. But Jasper
had one blessed, restraining influence which doubtless kept him from
going the full course of sin and folly--a devout, humble, praying,
Christian mother.

Happy the boy who in the slippery paths of youth can lean upon the
loving arm of a godly mother.

When sixteen years of age Jasper experienced a great change of heart
and conduct. It was the turning point of his life. With his father and
brother he attended a wedding in the neighborhood. With others he took
part in the uproarious merriment of the occa