was somewhat addicted. I mean, telling lies, generally to screen
himself from blame or from punishment. He could not well endure
to be reproached, and now I think had he been oftener encouraged
to be entirely frank, by MAKING FRANKNESS A KIND OF ATONEMENT for
some of his faults, he would not have had to struggle so long
with this mean habit.'

A story is told of John's schooldays which is an amusing and
quite characteristic instance of his ethical eccentricities. For
a short time he and his younger brother Salmon were at a school
together, and Salmon was guilty of some offence which was
condoned by the master. John had serious concern for the effect
this might have upon his brother's morals, and he sought the
lenient teacher and informed him that the fault was much
deprecated by their father at home, and he was sure castigation
there would have been inevitable. He therefore desired it should
be duly inflicted, as otherwise he should feel compelled to act
as his father's proxy. Finding discipline was still lax, he
proceeded with paternal solemnity to administer it himself. His
brother acknowledged that this was done with reluctant fidelity!
Truly the moral instincts of the family were worthy of their
Puritan ancestry.

Although naturally self-conscious and shy, his precociousness in
boyhood, bringing him into association, as it did, with much
older folk, bred a somewhat arrogant manner. The rule he
exercised over younger members of the family also made him
somewhat domineering, a fault which he diligently sought to
correct in later life. At fifteen he had become a miniature man
of business and was driving cattle on long journeys with all the