HIGH—SCHOOLANDCOLLEGEDAYS
TheendoftheCivilWarbroughtfreedomtome，too。Whenpeacewasdeclaredmyfatherandbrothersreturnedtotheclaiminthewildernesswhichwewomenofthefamilyhadlaboredsodes—
peratelytoholdwhiletheyweregone。Tous，astoothers，thefinalyearsofthewarhadbroughtmanychanges。MysisterEleanor’splacewasempty。
Mary，asIhavesaid，hadmarriedandgonetoliveinBigRapids，andmymotherandIwerealonewithmybrotherHarry，nowaboyoffourteen。Afterthereturnofourmenitwasnolongernecessarytode—
voteeverypennyofmyearningstothemaintenanceofourhome。ForthefirsttimeIcouldbegintosaveaportionofmyincometowardthefulfilmentofmycollegedream，butevenyettherewasalong，aridstretchaheadofmebeforethecollegedoorscameevendistantlyintosight。