Temperance > Autobiography and personal recollections of John B. Gough

130
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JOHN B. GOUGH.
“No.”
“Waal, then I’ll take it.”
And sweeping the coin into his hat, and holding it
before him, dipped his head into it, exclaiming: “Waal, I
guess I can carry it.”
I said, “You’ve got more cents in your hat than
usual.”
“Waal yes; I don’t generally carry cents in my hat.”
“But some of it is jackass cents.”
“Waal, yes; I see there was some bungtowns in the
heap.”
And without another word he marched off, leaving me
to laugh, which I did most heartily, and make the best of
my way to our starting-point; and, I assure you, my
friend and I were very merry, and made the woods ring
as we passed through them. The whole thing was so
irresistibly ludicrous to me, that I must be excused for
inserting it.
Time and hard work brought me to August 23, 1843,
when, at a celebration at Hopkinton, I first met Deacon
Moses Grant of Boston. He had sent me repeated invi¬
tations to visit that city, which I had declined, being per¬
fectly well satisfied with my work in smaller places, and
having a great dread of speaking in Boston. But when I
met him at Hopkinton, he asked to see my book of ap¬
pointments, and, immediately placing his finger on the
sixteenth, twenty-first, twenty-second, and twenty-third
days of September, told me I must consider myself engaged
by him for those days. Mr. Grant then very kindly told
me to come to his house, and divest myself of all fear;
for a good opportunity should be given me.
I fulfilled my engagements till Saturday, 16th Sep¬
tember, and on that day reached Boston, and went at once
to Mr. Grant’s house, where I was kindly received,—