Well, the next day Lawyer Sitgreave came to me and told me I had better
do it, and I consented. Shortly afterwards, I was taken to court, for
the first time in this whole affair, and was informed by the judge that
if I would sign a bond not to go near the Scheimer house or family he
would discharge me. I signed such a bond, and the judge then told me I
was discharged; but that I ought to have gone to State prison for ten
years for destroying the peace and happiness of the Scheimer family.
Truly the Scheimer family were a power, indeed, in that part of the
country!

My lawyer gave me five dollars and I went to Harmony and staid that
night. The next day I went to an old friend of mine, a Methodist
minister, and persuaded him to go over and see what Sarah Scheimer's
feelings were towards me, and if she was willing to come to me with our
child. He went over there, but the old Scheimers suspected his errand,
and watched him closely to see that he held no communication with Sarah.
He did, however, have an opportunity to speak to her, and she sent me
word that if she could ever get her money and get away from her parents,
she would certainly join me in any part of the world. I was warned, at
the same time, not to come near the house, for fear that her father or
some of her brothers would kill me.

CHAPTER VI. FREE LIFE AND FISHING.

TAKING CARE OF CRAZY MEN--CARRYING OFF A BOY--ARRESTED FOR STEALING MY
OWN HORSE AND BUGGY--FISHING IN LAKE WINNIPISEOGEE--AN ODD LANDLORD--A
WOMAN AS BIG AS A HOGSHEAD--REDUCING THE HOGSHEAD TO A BARREL--WONDERFUL
VERIFICATION OF A DREAM--SUCCESSFUL MEDICAL PRACTICE--A BUSY WINTER
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE--BLANDISHMENTS OF CAPTAIN BROWN--I GO TO NEWARK, NEW
JERSEY.

The next day I left Harmony and walked to Port Jarvis, on the Erie
Railroad, N. Y., arriving late at night, and entirely footsore, sick,
and disheartened. I went to the hotel, and the next morning I found
myself seriously sick. Asking advice, I was directed to the house of
a widow, who promised to nurse and take care of me. I was ill for two
weeks, and meantime, my half-sister in Delaware County, to whom I
made known my condition, sent me money for my expenses, and when I
had sufficiently recovered to travel, I went to this sister's house in
Sidney, and there I remained several days, till I was quite well and
strong again.

Casting about for something to do, a friend told me that he knew of
an opportunity for a good man at Newbu