Poor man!  Could he have known just then what really was troubling his boy, he could have stayed the spirit of unrest by holding out to John the “olive branch of peace.”  He could have said:  “John, we have drifted apart.  We are not to one another what we used to be.  Stop, my boy; sit down here.  Let us carefully talk these things over before you take such a step.  Out in the world you will meet many temptations and evils, more than you have ever known.”  And many other tender words of advice he might have spoken to the child; but these things were left unspoken.

Instead, his father only said, “John, I would like to have you remain at home a while longer; but if you are determined to go, you may, only remember to try to do as nearly right as you can!  I have wanted to bring you up well for your mother’s sake; for she had made so many plans for your future.  My wish, John, is that you become a good man.”

John was deeply touched by his father’s farewell speech; and had there been any other drawing to keep him at home, he certainly would have remained.  As it was, he soon gathered together his belongings, and while still in his thirteenth year, said good-by to his people, and went away to work for a thrifty farmer.

During the two years preceding his departure from home, John had now and then worked for the farmers in different parts of the country.  This and his attendance at the social gatherings had enabled him to become acquainted with numbers of boys, some of whom were very wild and rough.  But because of the companionship of Will during the winter months, the evil influences of his wide circle of friends had not been so strong.  But when the cousins were parted, John’s companions were again some of the roughest and toughest in the community.  Because of this his tobacco and beer bills increased, and to this alarming expenditure he added many accounts for whiskey.

John had made a discovery.  He had found that Ed, in order to satisfy the awful craving and gnawing in his stomach (a sensation produced by the tobacco poison), was using a generous supply of whiskey; and for the same reason John began to use it.  Whiskey did perhaps satisfy for the time being; but John also discovered that the seemingly good effect was very soon gone and that the old trouble was again there, only with renewed force and strength.  Another thing he found, too, was that he had added to his list of evil habits one even more fierce and strong than the others.

When John left home, his desire was principally to find relief for his loneliness; but he had another object.  His expenses had been heavy and hard to defray.  And now with the amount he had to pay for his whiskey added to what he was already spending for beer and tobacco, his bills were so high he felt that he must have more money in order to meet them.  This seeming necessity was, therefore, one thing that urged him to take the step he took.

[Illustration:  Leaving the Old Homestead]