At the age of ten or eleven years he was placed at school with two of his half-brothers at Williamsburg, L.I.  A negro servant was sent from the city every Saturday, to bring the children home, to remain until the following Monday morning.  Upon one occasion, when the messenger arrived at the school he found all things in commotion.  Johnny Kinzie was missing!  Search was made in all directions; every place was ransacked.  It was all in vain; no Johnny Kinzie could be found.

The heavy tidings were carried home to his mother.  By some it was supposed the lad was drowned; by others that he had strayed away, and would return.  Weeks passed by, and months, and he was at length given up and mourned as lost.  In the mean time the boy was fulfilling a determination he had long formed, to visit his native city of Quebec, and make his way in life for himself.

He had by some means succeeded in crossing from Williamsburg to the city of New York, and finding at one of the docks on the North River a sloop bound for Albany, he took passage on board of her.  While on his way up the river, he was noticed by a gentleman, who, taking an interest in the little lonely passenger, questioned him about his business.

“He was going to Quebec, where he had some friends.”

“Had he the means to carry him there?”

“Not much, but he thought he could get along.”

It happened, fortunately, that the gentleman himself was going to Quebec.  He took the boy under his care, paid his expenses the whole distance, and finally parted with him in the streets of the city, where he was, in truth, a stranger.

He wandered about for a time, looking into various “stores” and workshops.  At length, on entering the shop of a silversmith, he was satisfied with the expression he read in the countenance of the master, and he inquired if he wanted an apprentice.

“What, you, my little fellow!  What can you do?”

“Anything you can teach me.”

“Well, we will make a trial and see.”

The trial was satisfactory.  He remained in the family of his kind friend for more than three years, when his parents, who, in removing to Detroit, had necessarily returned to Canada, discovered his place of abode, and he was restored to them.

There were five younger half-brothers, of the name of Forsyth.  In the old family Bible, we find the following touching record of an event that occurred after the family had removed to Detroit:—­

“George Forsyth was lost in the woods 6th August, 1775, when Henry Hays and Mark Stirling ran away and left him.  The remains of George Forsyth were found by an Indian the 2d of October, 1776, close by the Prairie Ronde.”