no taint of vice or meanness, and a
countenance aglow with truth and courage, modest gentleness, and manly
self-reliance."

"You must continue to keep your journal," said Lawrence; "it will be
more valuable than ever to you."

George had kept a journal of events and experiences for two or three
years, and his brother encouraged him in doing it as valuable
discipline.

"I intend to do it," answered George, "and I shall take more interest in
it because I shall have something worth recording."

"Twenty or thirty years from now you will put a higher value upon your
journal than you do now," added Lawrence. "I should recommend every
youth to keep a journal."

"Especially in the woods," responded George, facetiously.

"Yes, in the woods or out; no boy can afford to lose the discipline of
it," rejoined Lawrence. "For so simple and easy practice it pays a large
interest."

"Small investments and large income! That is what you mean," remarked
George.

"Exactly; my word for it, you will find it so," added Lawrence.

That journal has proved of far more value than Lawrence predicted. After
the lapse of over one hundred and thirty years, we are able to learn
from it about the hardships, dangers, and severe labors of his surveying
expeditions. A few extracts from letters and journal will afford an
insight into that important period of his life.

He wrote to one of his friends, after an experience of several months,
thus:

"Your letter gave me the more pleasure, as I received it among
barbarians, and an uncouth set of people. Since you received my last
letter I have not slept above three or four nights in a bed; but after
walking a good deal all the day, I have lain down before the fire upon a
little hay, straw, fodder, or a bear-skin--whichsoever was to be
had--with man, wife, and children, like dogs and cats; and happy is he
who gets the berth nearest the fire. Nothing would make it pass off
tolerably but a good reward. A doubloon[A] is my constant gain every
day that the weather will permit my going out, and sometimes six
pistoles[B]. The coldness of the weather will not allow of my making a
long stay, as the lodging is rather too cold for the time of year. I
have never had my clothes off, but have lain and slept in them, except
the few nights I have been in Fredericksburg."

[A] $7 50.
[B] A pistole was $3.50

The entry in his journal for the third day after he started, in March,
1748, was as follows: