As my father was a mechanic in early life my mind ran in that direction, and as I was a boy of rather feeble constitution, my parents allowed me many hours to myself. I was a sort of errand-boy and kitchen helper to my mother, as she had seven sons and but one daughter. I acquired a knowledge of my father's trade by working in the shop from time to time, but this did not seem to satisfy my mechanical genius, my mind rather ran to machinery. I made my father's grain cradles and horse rakes before the revolving rake was in use in this country. At one time I made a little trundle-head apple paring machine, and I have often heard remarked, one thing leads to another, and necessity is the mother of invention. As I was the errand-boy I often had to go to the neighbors to borrow fire, as there were no matches in those days. This led me to make a machine of this kind, to produce fire. I cut out a wher from a piece of steel, placed it upon an arbour, gave it a double geer to give it speed, held a flint against it. I then had that which I borrowed and never returned. (Fire.) Parents often mistake in pointing out the line of business for their children in regard to placing them to trades or professions. It is my opinion, had my father chosen for me the machinists' art, I should not have been a Jack of all trades, and workman at none, as the saying is, although I have often regretted that my parents did not give me greater opportunity to improve in the arts and sciences, I have no cause to mourn that they did not train me up in the way a young man should go; for in early life they pointed me to the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world; and this they did by precepts and by their example. Dear friends, if I have failed somewhat in literature, and in the arts and sciences, for want of opportunity, I shall not have it to say on the day of judgment, on the great day of accounts, that I had no opportunity to make my calling and election sure, no! no! no! He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned. This is the first doctrine our Emmanuel God taught the eleven after his resurrection. There is no ifs nor ands about this doctrine. There is a thus saith the Lord for it; and this I believed in my youthful days; although, when moved by the holy spirit, I often said: I am young, time enough yet; and when I think how many there are called away by death under the age of eighteen years, I feel thankful that God spared me till my nineteenth, September, 1831. Since I began to write my little history, I have been advised to give it up, by old and young. One young man advised me so to do, that did not know that the Lord's prayer was in the new testament; and like many others could not say it correctly. Now I do not neglect my duty, as I am traveling through this, to another world, stopping to listen to every dog, and beat off every one that barks at me.