done and I now found that I had several leasure hours each day & I felt satisfyed that it was not my duty
to squander away this leasure time but the question arose in my mind what I should do with
it. I did not like novel reading because it was a fiction & did not store the mind with truth or knowledge
as for history I had not acquired a tast for that not having read it. & while reading a school Book I
found the following true remark "He that will spend his life in that manner which is most excell-
ent will find that custom will render it most delightsome." It made a strong impression upon my
mind so I immediately commenced to spend my leasure hours the first year in reading history but the greatest
difficulty with me was I read a great deal more than I could digest, remember or profit by I soon found I gained
a taste for reading History I obtained an interest in ^it^ which grew upon me. While perusing History we hold
convers with men of Judgement wisdom & knowledge & by persueing this course we can lay up an extensive
fund of valuable information. I commenced by reading the History of the United States; of England, Scotland, Greece, Rome, Rollins Ancient History, Josephus and others which I took much interest in and finally I took
hold of the Bible for History And I never have found as interesting a history as the Bible while reading that
Book we convers as it were with the Lord & with the Prophets & Apostles of God & while studying the word of God we learn thruths which cannot be obtained from any other source & those Books which
contain the revelations of Heaven are of far more interest than those books containing alone the opinions
theories & doctrins of man.
While living with Aunt Wheeler or during the first year of my stay
with her I passed through anoth scene of a revival of religion among the Prysbetarians who were the prevailing
religion of that place I listened the teachings of Elder Kellogg the minister of the place & attended the
meetings of the people But the teachings & principle were not such as I believed in or such as I believed
should belong to the Church of Christ, & I do not think that I obtained any special benefit during
this religious Excitement. In the midst of it I was called to follow my Brother Philo to the grave which
caused me sorrow for a season He was taken suddenly Ill & after a few days illness a Physican was employed
& ordered him strong doses of Calchicum which was poison & he died the 2nd soon after swallowing the second
dose I accidentally herd of his sickness & went home to see him I spent a few moments in conversing with
him he seemed comfortable, I lay down to rest a short time with the intention of setting up with him the
latter part of the night I had not lain long before his Mother said to me Philo was in a fit I arose
walked to his bed side & saw that He was dead I immediately called the Physician who gave him the medicine
he looked at him & turned away much agitated I considered him poisoned to death He diaed
He had a dream a few month before which troubled his mind much. He dreamed there was a Angel
arived from Heaven & was going through the streets with a roll containing a list of the Deaths of the people
in that Town during that year And the Angel approached him & unrolled his list & told him
that there would be funeral attended at his Fathers House on the 27th of Nov He recorded it in his
Journal & on that vary day he was buried himself.
Soon after I was called to set up for the night
with the corps of a young man by the name of Henry Miller who was vary wicked & profane He
had been the day before to a celebration of the & his Father was a religious man & reproved
him for his Profanity & wickedness, & while going into the Field to get up some Hay their came up
a sudden thunder shower. & Heanry mocked God & the thunder & in a moment he was struct dead
standing near his Father I attended his Father funeral & it made a deep impression upon my mind
I remained with Aunt Wheeler during 3 year & 10 days but I lost a good share of my wages by loaning my money
to an unprincipled young man by the name of Wm Sage & Joining my Brother Azmon in Fitting out Ezra Hart
on a padling expedition he turned crazy & lost nearly all we sent out by him I left Aunt Wheelers Family
done and I now found that I had several leasure hours each day & I felt satisfyed that it was not my duty
to squander away this leasure time but the question arose in my mind what I should do with
it. I did not like novel reading because it was a fiction & did not store the mind with truth or knowledge
as for history I had not acquired a tast for that not having read it. & while reading a school Book I
found the following true remark "He that will spend his life in that manner which is most excellent will find that custom will render it most delightsome." It made a strong impression upon my
mind so I immediately commenced to spend my leasure hours the first year in reading history but the greatest
difficulty with me was I read a great deal more than I could digest, remember or profit by I soon found I gained
a taste for reading History I obtained an interest in it which grew upon me. While perusing History we hold
convers with men of Judgement wisdom & knowledge & by persueing this course we can lay up an extensive
fund of valuable information. I commenced by reading the History of the United States; of England, Scotland,
Greece, Rome, Rollins Ancient History, Josephus and others which I took much interest in and finally I took
hold of the Bible for History And I never have found as interesting a history as the Bible while reading that
Book we convers as it were with the Lord & with the Prophets & Apostles of God & while studying the
word of God we learn thruths which cannot be obtained from any other source & those Books which
contain the revelations of Heaven are of far more interest than those books containing alone the opinions
theories & doctrins of man.
While living with Aunt Wheeler or during the first year of my stay
with her I passed through anoth scene of a revival of religion among the Prysbetarians who were the prevailing
religion of that place I listened the teachings of Elder Kellogg the minister of the place & attended the
meetings of the people But the teachings & principle were not such as I believed in or such as I believed
should belong to the Church of Christ, & I do not think that I obtained any special benefit during
this religious Excitement. In the midst of it I was called to follow my Brother Philo to the grave which
caused me sorrow for a season He was taken suddenly Ill & after a few days illness a Physican was employed
& ordered him strong doses of Calchicum which was poison & he died soon after swallowing the second
dose I accidentally herd of his sickness & went home to see him I spent a few moments in conversing with
him he seemed comfortable, I lay down to rest a short time with the intention of setting up with him the
latter part of the night I had not lain long before his Mother said to me Philo was in a fit I arose
walked to his bed side & saw that He was dead I immediately called the Physician who gave him the medicine
he looked at him & turned away much agitated I considered him poisoned to death He died
He had a dream a few month before which troubled his mind much. He dreamed there was a Angel
arived from Heaven & was going through the streets with a roll containing a list of the Deaths of the people
in that Town during that year And the Angel approached him & unrolled his list & told him
that there would be funeral attended at his Fathers House on the 27th of Nov He recorded it in his
Journal & on that vary day he was buried himself.
Soon after I was called to set up for the night
with the corps of a young man by the name of Henry Miller who was vary wicked & profane He
had been the day before to a celebration of the 4th of July & his Father was a religious man & reproved
him for his Profanity & wickedness, & while going into the Field to get up some Hay their came up
a sudden thunder shower. & Henry mocked God & the thunder & in a moment he was struct dead
standing near his Father I attended his funeral & it made a deep impression upon my mind
I remained with Aunt Wheeler during 3 year & 10 days but I lost a good share of my wages by loaning my money
to an unprincipled young man by the name of Wm Sage & Joining my Brother Azmon in Fitting out Ezra Hart
on a padling expedition he turned crazy & lost nearly all we sent out by him I left Aunt Wheelers Family
