Here let me state this was not the only time I was the next
to sleep in a bed where a murderer had slept. A few years after
this, during the awful war of the rebellion, I was late in the night
getting into the City of Vincennes, Indiana and called a hotel for a
bed. I was told there was but one empty bed, and it had just been
vacated by a murderer. He became uneasy and left; the officers in
pursuit of him came to the hotel, and searched his bed, but he was
gone. I said to the landlord, "Do you suppose the officers will come
back to search that bed again?" He said he supposed not. I told him
that I would occupy it. The bed was still warm. I have seen, boys,
about as much of the world as I want to see. I would not go fifty
miles to see the Rocky Mountains or the Jerusalem that now is.

The third night we staid with a farmer who, that very night, has a
maple sugar stirring off, and we had a good time, but the horse I
rode was so tall he could not get through the stable door and he had
to be tied out all night. The next day we arrived at Lindley, where
I made my headquarters for almost five years.

But before I proceed with the story of my life chronologically, let
me philosophize and moralize a little as suggested to me by my own
experience in both young life and old life.

What, from a worldly, physical, selfish stand point, do you
consider,

1. The best thing in this life.

2. The most convenient thing in this life.
Answer: 1. Good weather and good health.
2. Money

What, from any stand-point, do you think is the best
thing in this life?
Answer: Christianity.

What, from any stand-point, do you think is the worst
thing?
Answer: Sin.

Now, in my old age I do not wish to live my life over again, but I
can see where I might have done better especially as it relates to
the questions above. I might have taken more advantage of the good
weather and avoided the bad. I might have taken better care of my
health. I might have secured a little more money for the rainy days.
I might have wedded myself more closely to Christianity, and have
divorced myself more fully from sin.

But I am now in my old age content--am ready, and resting in the
hope of the glory that shall be revealed. God is good. My counsel
to my children and to all young people for many years