with the inquiry, 'What would you do with
that wool?' But there was wisdom in him down to the finger-ends, for
he rolled it there, and in a moment handed it back with the confounding
retort, 'Gentlemen, if you have any machinery in England for working up
dog's hair I would advise you to put this into it.'

Had he known how to sell wool as well as he knew how to test it; had he
known how to sell his sheep as well as he knew hundreds of sheep faces
apart, and like a diviner could interpret their inarticulate language;
had he been as apt upon the market as he was upon the farm, he might
have made money. As it was, there was never more than enough for the
wants of a severely plain household life.

But this business record was (and herefrom its frequent misfortune may
have largely proceeded) in no wise the history of John Brown. We must
catch, if we can, indications of the unfolding of his soul, and of the
inward preparation for what he felt was his divine destiny; and these
may best be gathered as we watch the simple home life of the family.
At an early age, while residing at Hudson, Ohio, he married his first
wife, Dianthe Lusk; and though he was but twenty years of age, his was
no rash choice. A description by one who had been brought up with her
may be fitly quoted: 'Plain but attractive, because of a quiet amiable
disposition, sang beautifully, almost always sacred music; she had a
place in the wood not far from the house where she used to go alone to
pray.' John Brown, servant as he already accounted himself of the
Invisible Powers, is drawn to one who thus communes with the Unseen.
She will have sympathy with his moral aims and a source of strength
when he may be absent from her in pursuit of them. The sketch
proceeds, 'She was pleasant but not funny; she never said what she did
not mean.' Here, truly, was the wife for a man in dead earnest and who
could keep a boyish oath even unto death. For twelve years she proved
a good comrade, and of the seven children of this marriage five
survived, from whom testimonies concerning the domestic life are
forthcoming.

The wife who succeeded her (Mary Ann Day) seems to have been no less a
help-meet in his enterprises. Thirteen children, many of whom died
young, were the off-spring of this second marriage, so that in a
hereditary sense the soul of John Brown may be said to have marched on.

He infected all his children with his passionate love of liberty. Many
are h