ther of John, thus testifies to his own fidelity to
the tradition of liberty. 'I am an Abolitionist. I know we are not
loved by many. I wish to tell how I became one. Our neighbour lent my
mother a slave for a few days. I used to go out into the field with
him, and he used to carry me on his back, and I fell in love with him.'
There we have the clue to the history of the household of the Browns
for the next two generations. They FELL IN LOVE With the despised
negro, and this glorious trait passed like an heritage from generation
to generation.

There is a letter extant which supplies us with the best information on
John Brown's own boyhood. It was written for a lad in a wealthy home
where he stayed in later days, who had asked him many questions about
his experiences in early life. He humorously calls it a 'short story
of a certain boy of my acquaintance I will call John.' A few extracts
will reveal his character in the forming. Here, for instance, you may
trace the conscientiousness (often morbid) which was so marked a
feature in his later days. 'I cannot tell you of anything in the first
four years of John's life worth mentioning save that at that early age
he was tempted by three large brass pins belonging to a girl who lived
in the family, and stole them. In this he was detected by his mother;
and after having a full day to think of the wrong, received from her a
thorough whipping.' He adds, 'I must not neglect to tell you of a very
foolish and bad habit to which John was somewhat addicted. I mean,
telling lies, generally to screen himself from blame or from
punishment. He could not well endure to be reproached, and now I think
had he been oftener encouraged to be entirely frank, by MAKING
FRANKNESS A KIND OF ATONEMENT for some of his faults, he would not have
had to struggle so long with this mean habit.'

A story is told of John's schooldays which is an amusing and quite
characteristic instance of his ethical eccentricities. For a short
time he and his younger brother Salmon were at a school together, and
Salmon was guilty of some offence which was condoned by the master.
John had serious concern for the effect this might have upon his
brother's morals, and he sought the lenient teacher and informed him
that the fault was much deprecated by their father at home, and he was
sure castigation there would have been inevitable. He therefore
desired it should be duly inflicted, as otherwise he should f