i did not cair for what you said, & at the first go off I didn’t, but i
noed you was a man who had don big work with good men & want no sucker,
nor want gasing & all the boys knod it.
I used to think at nite what you said, & for it i nocked off swearing months
before my time was up, for i saw it want no good, nohow–the day my time
was up you told me if i would shake the cross (QUIT STEALING) & live on
the square for months, it would be the best job i ever done in my life.
The state agent give me a ticket to here, & on the car i thought more of
what you said to me, but didn’t make up my mind. When we got to Chicago
on the cars from there to here, I pulled off an old woman’s leather;
(ROBBED HER OF HER POCKETBOOK) i hadn’t no more than got it off when i
wished i hadn’t done it, for awhile before that i made up my mind
to be a square bloke, for months on your word, but forgot it when i saw
the leather was a grip (EASY TO GET)–but i kept clos to her & when she
got out of the cars at a way place i said, marm have you lost anything.
& she tumbled (DISCOVERED) her leather was off (GONE)–is this it says i,
giving it to her–well if you aint honest, says she, but i hadn’t got
cheak enough to stand that sort of talk, so i left her in a hurry.
When i got here i had $1 and 25 cents left & i didn’t get no work for 3
days as i aint strong enough for roust about on a steam bote (FOR A
DECK HAND)–The afternoon of the 3rd day I spent my last 10 cts for moons
(LARGE, ROUND SEA-BISCUIT) & cheese & i felt pretty rough & was thinking
i would have to go on the dipe (PICKING POCKETS) again, when i thought
of what you once said about a fellows calling on the Lord when he was
in hard luck, & i thought i would try it once anyhow, but when i tryed
it i got stuck on the start, & all i could get off wos, Lord give a poor
fellow a chance to square it for 3 months for Christ’s sake, amen; & i
kept a thinking, of it over and over as i went along–about an hour after
that i was in 4th St. & this is what happened & is the cause of my being
where i am now & about which i will tell you before i get done writing.
As i was walking along herd a big noise & saw a horse running away with a
carriage with 2 children in it, & I grabed up a peace of box cover from
the side walk & run in the middle of the street, & when the horse came up i
smashed him over the head as hard as i could drive–the bord split to peces
& the horse checked up a little & I grabbed the reigns & pulled his head
down until he stopped–the gentleman what owned him came running up & soon
as he saw the children were all rite, he shook hands with me and gave
me a $50 green back, & my asking the Lord to help me come into my head,
& i was so thunderstruck i couldn’t drop the reigns nor say nothing–
he saw something was up, & coming back to me said, my boy are you hurt?
& the thought come into my head just then to ask him for work; & i asked
him to take back the bill and give me a job–says he, jump in here &
lets talk about it, but keep the money–he asked me if i could take care
of horses & i said yes, for i used to hang round livery stables & often
would help clean & drive horses, he told me he wanted a man for that work,
& would give me $16 a month & bord me. You bet i took that chance at once.