JOHN ELLIOTT,

THE REFORMED.

CHAPTER I.

JOHN ELLIOTT was born in the vicinity of Boston, in the year 1804, of respectable parentage. His opportunities for getting an education were limited; in common with most New England boys, however, he learned to read, write, and cipher tolerably well.

He began early in life to evince an adventurous spirit. The sentimental song of "Home, sweet home," we are sure would not have been to his taste. He was, essentially, and naturally a vagrant, as this history will fully demonstrate; and though not decidedly vicious, yet he was susceptible of most readily receiving immoral

impressions, as is the case with all youngsters of the forward and dare-devil description. It is not to be wondered at, then, that he should, at that day, when rum-drinking was so common, and respectable withal, early become adicted to intoxication. We are sorry to record that John early became intemperate. This habit, which has proved the source of all his misfortune, vice, and consequent suffering, was formed much in the usual way. Probably he was allowed the sugar that remained undissolved at the bottom of the tumbler. Much drunkness, no doubt, may be traced to this source. We can remember very distinctly how eagerly we used to await the morning dram, although we were pretty sure it would bring to our ears some few additional cuffs. But what cared we for the bitter if we could but first taste the sweet? Is this not the case with all sinners? How much misery will they knowingly encounter for the sake of the sugar of vice. We sometimes wish that the first taste of sin were more disagreeable. Especially do we wish we could profit more by experience. The old adage hath it that experience is the best school master. All is, if it be a good the best school master, we are

amazing dull, stupid scholars. "Experience, to most men," says Coleridge, "is like the stern lights of a ship, it illumines only the track it has passed."

But we must not stop to sermonize, neither must we linger long at the boyhood of our hero, for we are to follow him through a long and devious way. When about eleven years of age he had a strong desire "to go to sea ;" and, although his father frequently promised he should soon go, he managed to keep him back until the boy's adventurous temper broke loose, and he "took French leave" of the old gentleman, and steered his course for Salem where he designed to ship. His being young, however, created a suspicion that he had run away, and he therefore could get no chance to embark upon the longed-for element. After remaining about a week in Salem with some relatives, his father came for him; and, to appease his disappointed feelings, promised he should go to sea the ensuing spring. Satisfied with this promise he cheerfully returned with his father, and for a year remained contentedly at home. Soon, however, he again grew uneasy, and once more clandestinely left the paternal mansion, and

went to Marblehead with the ambitious view of enlisting as a soldier,—for, be it known, our hero had, even at this tender age, a stout and valorous heart. But our little friend was doomed to be baffled in his attempt to become a soldier, as he had been before to become a sailor; for his father, having been by some means or other apprised of his contemplated enlistment at Marblehead, forestalled him, and forbid the enlisting authorities to avail themselves of the prospective re-enforcement which was about to be offered in the person of his son John. He also made a request that when he should come to offer his services, they would retain him in "durance vile" until he could come for him. Thus was our hero circumvented in his most ambitious plan to seek the bubble reputation even in the cannon's mouth." But, nevertheless, John managed to elude his father's vigilance; for being informed by one of the soldiers of his previous interposition with the enlisting powers, and being determined not to live at home "in inglorious peace," he again "cut stick," but was after a while retaken and remanded to the paternal prison.