and pigs, my mother said of course I
couldn't be contented until I sold them and lost the money. I explained
to her that, in order to speculate, it was necessary to keep
re-investing and turning my money often.

Mr. Keefer said I was right, but advised me to be very careful, now that
I had quite a nice start from simply nothing.

After selling out, I one day called on the day telegraph operator, Will
Witmer, and while sitting in his office, asked him to explain the
mysteries of telegraphy. He did so, and I then asked him to furnish me
with the telegraph alphabet, which he did. I studied it that night, and
the next day called at his office again, and began practicing making the
letters on the instrument.

He paid me a very high compliment for my aptness, and said I was foolish
for not learning the business.

I asked what the expense would be.

He said his charges would be fifteen dollars, and it would take four
months anyhow, and possibly six, before I would be able to take an
office.

Two days later, after giving special attention to the business, I had
become quite infatuated with it, and paid over the fifteen dollars to
him and two weeks' board at the hotel.

My intentions were to try and sustain myself by speculating and
trafficking, but I very soon became so absorbed in my new undertaking as
to be unfit for that business.

My mother was immensely pleased at the turn affairs had taken. Mr.
Keefer was both surprised and pleased, and said he would help me pay my
board, although he couldn't see how I ever happened to take a liking to
that business.

During this winter, my associates and habits of life differing wholly
from those of former years, I became what would now be considered "quite
a dude." And having no income from business, and a limited one from Mr.
Keefer, with a fair future prospect, I took advantage of my good credit
in town, and bought clothes, boots, shoes and furnishing goods, and
borrowed money occasionally from my friends, who never refused me.

Three months from the very day I began learning the alphabet, through
the advice and recommendation of Mr. Witmer, I called on Wm. Kline, Jr.,
General Superintendent of Telegraph, and made application for an office.
He sent me to Whiting, Indiana, sixteen miles from Chicago, with
instructions to take charge of the night office, at a salary of forty
dollars per month.

On arriving there I found only a small station, and one family, with
whom I w