de and explained just "how it all happened"
and how the fruit all rotted, and how my relatives and friends helped
themselves. He said they ought to be ashamed and it was too bad.

I borrowed a few dollars from him for incidental expenses, until I could
"strike something."

My mother wanted to know what I expected to do, and said I needn't ask
Mr. Keefer for money, because he shouldn't give me a penny.

Of course I could give her no satisfaction. She finally said was going
to take me to a jeweler, with whom she had talked, and have me learn the
jeweler's trade. I disliked the idea and rebelled against it. She was
determined, however, and compelled me to accompany her.

The jeweler had a talk with me and told my mother he thought he could
make quite a mechanic out of me.

I thought I was destined to stay with him, until my mother happened to
leave the store for a few minutes, when he asked me if I thought I would
like the business. I told him no, I knew I would dislike it. He said he
wouldn't fool his time away with a boy who had no taste for the
business, and so informed my mother.

I returned home with her, and that evening she and Mr. Keefer and myself
had a long conference.

We talked about the past, and my mother suggested all kinds of trades,
professions and clerkships, all of which I objected to, because I would
not work for some one else.

Mr. Keefer said he believed I would strike something "yet" that I would
make money out of.

My mother said she couldn't understand why he should think so;
everything had been a failure thus far.

He explained his reasons by reminding her that with all my misfortunes,
not one dollar had been spent in dissipation or gambling, but
invariably in trying to make money, and with no lack of energy.

I remained idle a few days until the few dollars Mr. Keefer had loaned
me were spent, when one day I called upon a friend in town. Kintz by
name, who was engaged in the bakery business.

In conversation with him I learned that he owned two watches and wanted
to exchange one of them (a small lady's gold watch) for something else.
I asked him to let me carry it and try and find a customer for it.

I called that evening on the night telegraph operator, Andy Clock, and
bantered him to trade watches. He owned a large silver watch and gold
chain.

"How will you trade?" I asked, showing him the lady's gold watch.

"Oh, I'll leave it with you."

"You ought to give your watch and