quite well. I harnessed him one day before a buggy and drove him gallantly down to show him to the circusman, my palms, meantime, itching for about $140. The circusman, after driving him a little before the carriage, desired to take him out and try his activity in galloping around a circle. So we drove down to a vacant piece of ground, which was surrounded by some old rickety houses, filled with the very poorest class of people. There was one old house with a set of dilapidated stairs, fenced in by some rotten banisters to prevent people or other animals from falling into a hole about four feet deep, in front of the basement story, which was occupied by a negro family, while this hole or cavity between the basement and the banisters was ornamented with a swill-barrel and other like useful articles. An Irish family lived, or rather staid, above. The horse was taken out, and a boy mounted him, whip in hand, to prove his dexterity. He had nothing on his head but a blind-bridle and gig-rein, which served to pull his nose right straight up. With the blind-bridle on, he could not see where he went, but he made one or two awkward evolutions. He took fright, and, with his nose elevated in the air, like a hog's in a gale of wind, he rushed with all speed towards the above described house and gave a desperate plunge, sweeping away the old banisters as a cobweb, and dashing his head through the Irish woman's window, scattering the sash and glass through her house, while his fore legs knocked in the negro woman's

window in the same manner, at the same time that one of his hind legs was in the swill-barrel! The shouts of the rowdies that had gathered round, in concert with the vociferous squalls and cursings that came from the negro nest below and the Irish woman above, rendered the scene laughable and yet distressing. My horse fever was now at its height! But my philosophy soon returned to my aid. I cooled down, got some ropes, and with the aid of the multitude, soon had my horse standing on his cantering ground once more. I paid the damage he had done to the house, swapped him away immediately for a cart-horse, and then sold the carthorse for forty dollars, which just about paid my bills at the livery stable and tavern; and lastly took a steamboat that night, happy and thankful that I had got rid of him so well. For I seldom, if ever, in the whole course of my life, cried for spilled milk, but generally gathered up my spoon and basin, well persuaded, by some bright prospect just before me, that it would soon be better filled. In fact, I have generally felt more courage at the foot of the hill than in any other position. Running after the riches of this world for the purpose of happiness is like a child seeking for pretty things at the rainbow's end, which seems to be just in the adjoining field. So hope and ambition have led men on from the wreck of one prospect to the opening of another-from one failure to another fortune in prospect.

No sooner had I landed at Albany that night than I bought another large quantity of stock for bells. In handling over a lot of rusty sheet-iron, and exerting myself to get my stuff shipped for Frankfort that night, I was in a state of profuse perspiration. My object accomplished, I mounted the stage for Troy, whereby I took a severe cold, which, together with the iron-rust, caused a relapse of the disease of my eyes; and when I got out of the stage at Troy my eyes were terribly swollen. I hastened home again to my friends, suffering excruciating pain, and entirely blind; and I think I lay for about three months in a dark room excruciated by the inflammation of my eyes and tortured by my physician, until at length I was emaciated to a mere skeleton. My friends and physician despaired of my ever again seeing the light of day, and indeed few, if any, expected me long to live. My pious mother sometimes spoke to me of my preparation for the solemn change, which was rather offensive to my ears, for even in this state of affairs I was full of hope and expectation of a speedy recovery both of sight and health; indeed, some of the finest speculations were here presented to my view, rendering a sure equivalent for all my bad luck. I will here relate two dreams that brought me relief in my darkest time, singular, and, as I thought, significant. I dreamed that I suddenly died in the city of New-York, or was supposed to be dead, and was immediately taken and laid in a

vault or sepulchre in St. Paul's church-yard. I thought I came to life and broke open the stone of the sepulchre and came out, and then I saw erected a tomb-stone with this inscription on it, "Sacred to the memory of George W. Henry," telling the manner of my death. I there also read four lines of well-measured poetry, most perfectly appropriate to my case, and, as I thought I read them, I awoke, and I think I repeated the verse to my mother, who was then sitting by my bed-side, relating to her my dream, and assuring her that I should soon recover. The verse has entirely escaped from my memory. Again, falling asleep, I dreamed of being on the ice on a mill-pond, which broke in with me, and I thought I should have drowned had it not been for old Mrs. Golden, an old lady living in the neighbourhood. I then awoke and found myself high and dry in bed. Soon after, this same old lady came in and proposed a remedy for my eyes, which was a salve of cat-tail flag-root, and which, on trial, produced a speedy cure. I was soon on my legs again, wide awake for business. Now, reader, you have a right to think just as you please about these dreams-I only hope you will suit yourself.

My next move, after these calamities, was to gather together my workmen, tools, and stock, and to get my shop into full operation again. I then proceeded to build and finish off a two-story house, together with the requisite out-houses, such as barn, woodshed, &c., in neat and handsome order. This

was all done in about three months after my recovery from sickness, and my house was very neatly and comfortably furnished. My cousin, Miss Mary Everett, a well-educated and intelligent young lady of about my own age, set my house in excellent order, for a young bachelor, and made it as cheerful as a bachelor's hall well could be, and at the same time rendered me great assistance in posting my books and in acting as my scribe generally. I was now, late in the same fall, ready to go to New-York again with a fine lot of bells, (unencumbered by any Arabian horse,) which were soon disposed of to the hardware merchants, and a contract was made for about six thousand more, and stock procured for the

same.

But right here fortune had set another snare for me, baited with a golden prospect. There had just been introduced into market the fair calf-skin pocket-book, which sold very quick and at a large profit. The merchants advised me to go into the manufacturing of them, suggesting that there could be any quantity sold in the spring. My bell and bell-stuff contract being consummated, I soon returned home, and my first move was to prepare me a saddle and harness-maker's shop; hired journeymen, procured stock, and set them to work at making saddles and harness, as I needed men that were acquainted with leather to assist about cutting out pocket-books; this was the reason that I established this shop. My next move was to put my bell factory into full operation. About this time I had con