A last word as to myself. Readers of this book may think I have sometimes taken myself too seriously. I can scarcely agree with them. I try not to be too serious about anything--not even about myself. When I was making a hopeless fight for the Presidency in '72, I made the following statement in one of my speeches: "Many persons attribute to me simply an impulsiveness, and an impressibility, as if I were some erratic comet, rushing madly through space, emitting coruscations of fancifully colored sparks, without system, rule, or definite object. This is a popular error. I claim to be a close analytical observer of passing events, applying the crucible of Truth to every new matter or subject presented to my mind or my senses." I think that estimate may be used to-day in this place. It does not so much matter, however, what I may have thought of myself or what I now think of myself. What does matter is what I may have done. I stand on my achievement. And with this, I commit my life-story to the kind consideration of readers. CITIZEN GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN. THE MILLS PALACE, _September 22, '02_. CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGE WHEN I WAS FOUR YEARS OLD. 1833 2 New Orleans then my home--All the family except myself perish from yellow fever. CHAPTER II MY VOYAGE FROM NEW ORLEANS TO BOSTON. 1833 16 Four years old and the sole passenger--Sailors teach me to swear--My aunt shocked at my depravity. CHAPTER III MY BOYHOOD ON A FARM. 1833-1843 21 My grandfather a noted Methodist preacher--My first money earned. CHAPTER IV SCHOOLDAYS AND A START IN LIFE. 1840-1844 35 Leader of the school--George Ripley my school-teacher--Emerson comes to our village to lecture--Boston visited. CHAPTER V EARLY NEW ENGLAND METHODISM. 45 How I was reared religiously--Ideas of right and wrong--Things outgrown. CHAPTER VI IN A SHIPPING HOUSE IN BOSTON. 1844-1850 52 A place with my uncle--Progress rapidly made--I sell Emerson a ticket for Liverpool--I engage Rufus Choate and Daniel Webster as our lawyers--My first speculation--Building fast ships. CHAPTER VII A VACATION TOUR. 1850 79 In Washington I meet Webster, Clay, and President Taylor--A letter with their autographs that served me well. CHAPTER VIII A PARTNER IN THE LIVERPOOL HOUSE. 1850-1852 90 In Scotland Lord John Russell receives me, and I meet Lady Russell--Reform in the shipping business--Money we made--The Duke of Wellington--I visit Chatsworth. CHAPTER IX