Youthful Adventures.
David at Gerardstown.--Trip to Baltimore.--Anecdotes.--He ships for London.--Disappointment.--Defrauded of his Wages.--Escapes.--New Adventures.--Crossing the River.--Returns Home.--His Reception.--A Farm Laborer.--Generosity to his Father.--Love Adventure.--The Wreck of his Hopes.--His School Education.--Second Love Adventure.--Bitter Disappointment.--Life in the Backwoods.--Third Love Adventure.





The wagoner whom David had accompanied to Gerardstown was disappointed in his endeavors to find a load to take back to Tennessee. He therefore took a load to Alexandria, on the Potomac. David decided to remain at Gerardstown until Myers should return. He therefore engaged to work for a man by the name of John Gray, for twenty-five cents a day. It was light farm-work in which he was employed, and he was so faithful in the performance of his duties that he pleased the farmer, who was an old man, very much.

Myers continued for the winter in teaming backward and forward between Gerardstown and Baltimore, while David found a comfortable home of easy industry with the farmer. He was very careful in the expenditure of his money, and in the spring found that he had saved enough from his small wages to purchase him a suit of coarse but substantial clothes. He then, wishing to see a little more of the world, decided to make a trip with the wagoner to Baltimore.