Sinopsis

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE IN THE CIRCUS—AN ACCIDENT AND A CHANGE OF CALLING—FAMILY AFFECTION—POP-CORN—A LITTLE CHEEK, AND A GREAT DEAL OF DISMAY—SUCCESS AS A DEALER IN GRAIN—BEING AN ACTOR—CAUGHT AGAIN—BLOOD AND ITS CONSEQUENCES—BAILED OUT, AND IN AGAIN—THE GOOD-NATURED IRISHMAN—CHANGE OF VENUE—ANOTHER PROFESSION. Actor, trapper, scout, gold-digger, and guide, my life, very unlike that of most of my readers, has been one of plenty of change and adventure, but certainly not of money-making. They say "A rolling stone gathers no moss." I have had good reason to feel this proverbial truth, having been a wanderer on the face, if not of this earth, at all events, of this continent. My earliest recollection, which is worth my own remembrance, is a decidedly unpleasant one. When no more than eight years of age I was connected with the Circus of Dan Rice. Necessarily, I was a very unimportant member of it; and not feeling that it was in every respect what I thought a circus-life ought to be, I took it into my head to run away from it. Before I had covered sufficient ground to get out of the agent's reach, he caught me, and I had the gratification of being very well and soundl...