The game went on and we had a good time. This boy afterwards became a very wealthy and successful merchant in New Orleans. The reader may possibly suppose that the objection on the part of the rich boys to associate with those of the jDoorer class was, that they were vulgar and of low breeding. This however was not the case, for there were boys whose parents were poor and industrious, who were exemplary in their deportment, good scholars, and many of them to my knowledge became men of fortunes; many have filled high and honorable positions in the navy, army, and in the general government. And I have lived to see some of those who were born with a silver spoon in their mouth, dragging along their lives in poverty and destitution.
" Honor and shame from no condition rise; Act well your part, there all the honor lies." I have spoken several times of resenting personal insults when a boy, but since I have become a man 1 have thought that it was far more magnanimous to pass by than to avenge them, although it often caused a hard struggle to do so. It is written of Bonaparte that while on the Island of Elba he declared to a friend that he never had resented a personal m insult. But a personal injury is quite another matter. He who injures me in either my property or reputation, may create a pang in the bosom of my family that may not be removed until the grave encloses them; and he who does this must expect his recompense; for the Almighty hath said, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord" Once more I came near losing my life in a very foolish manner.
I had a large bow gun with a very strong bow, and an arrow fitted with a long sail needle projecting over three inches from the end. One of my companions out of mere sport, deliberately took up the gun and shot the arrow into my back, standing only about five or six yards from me. The needle entered just above the kidney, probably a half an inch, and it was with much difficulty that we pulled it out. The doctor pronounced it a miraculous escape. Had it entered the kidney, in all probability it would have caused my death. Thus was I spared again, and it was evident my time had not yet come. I had as a classmate an intimate acquaintance, a lad about my own age; who was both amiable and exemplary, and was received as a member of Dr.
Baldwin's (Baptist,) church, at the age of eleven years. He came to me one day in an affectionate manner, saying he wished to have some conversation with me, and commenced by asking if I ever thought of death and of the judgment, and if I thought I was prepared to die. To all of which I answered in the negative; but immediately felt the weight of these important interrogatories. He then in the most friendly and sympathizing manner, alluded to the bad company I kept, and the profane language he so frequently heard from me. I was much affected, and thanked him for his kind reproof. He then invited me to go with him to an old barn where he was accustomed to go every day for secret prayer.
I consented, and the next day went with him. He knelt, and desired me to kneel by his side, and then, in the most fervent manner, prayed that I might be led to see the error of my ways and to seek repentance and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. I also made an attempt to offer up a prayer myself. I now felt a determination to break off from my former associates, and also from my bad habits, embrace religion and follow the precepts of the Bible. My kind and faithful friend whom I will now introduce to the reader was the Rev. James Colman, who died on his passage to India, whither he was going to join the Burman Missions.
James continued faithful, evincing towards me a truly brotherly affection. I found it rather hard to disengage myself from my old associates, but was frank and open, telling them that 1 had seen my errors and was determined to forsake them. At this they sneeringly replied that as I had now turned Methodist, I had better go and preach. A good opportunity offered on the first Saturday of each month, for seeing the result of bad company and early vices. At the head of West street, and near to our writing school, right against the gate leading to the Mall, the public whipping post was erected; (at that time there was no House of Correction,) the whipping commenced at eleven o'clock, A.