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at the wheel； he was likely to be reading or telling yarns in the
Association Rooms。
He began the study of French one day when he passed a school of
languages； where three tongues； French； German； and Italian； were taught；
one in each of three rooms。 The price was twenty…five dollars for one
language； or three for fifty dollars。 The student was provided with a
set of cards for each room and supposed to walk from one apartment to
another； changing tongues at each threshold。 With his unusual enthusiasm
and prodigality； the young pilot decided to take all three languages； but
after the first two or three round trips concluded that for the present
French would do。 He did not return to the school； but kept his cards and
bought text…books。 He must have studied pretty faithfully when he was
off watch and in port； for his river note…book contains a French
exercise； all neatly written； and it is from the Dialogues of Voltaire。
This old note…book is interesting for other things。 The notes are no
longer timid； hesitating memoranda； but vigorous records made with the
dash of assurance that comes from confidence and knowledge； and with the
authority of one in supreme command。 Under the head of 〃2d high…water
tripJan。； 1861Alonzo Child；〃 we have the story of a rising river with
its overflowing banks； its blind passages and cut…offsall the
circumstance and uncertainty of change。
Good deal of water all over Coles Creek Chute； 12 or 15 ft。 bank
could have gone up shore above General Taylor'stoo much drift。。。。
Nightdidn't run either 77 or 76 towheads8 ft。 bank on main shore
Ozark Chute。。。。
And so on page after page of cryptographic memoranda。 It means little
enough to the lay reader； yet one gets an impression somehow of the
swirling； turbulent water and a lonely figure in that high glassed…in
place peering into the dark for blind land…marks and possible dangers；
picking his way up the dim； hungry river of which he must know every foot
as well as a man knows the hall of his own home。 All the qualifications
must come into play； then memory； judgment； courage； and the high art of
steering。 〃Steering is a very high； art；〃 he says； 〃one must not keep a
rudder dragging across a boat's stern if he wants to get up the river
fast。〃
He had an example of the perfection of this art one misty night on the
Alonzo Child。 Nearly fifty years later； sitting on his veranda in the
dark； he recalled it。 He said：
〃There was a pilot in those days by the name of Jack Leonard who was a
perfectly wonderful creature。 I do not know that Jack knew anymore about
the river than most of us and perhaps could not read the water any
better； but he had a knack of steering away ahead of our ability； and I
think he must have had an eye that could see farther into the darkness。
〃I had never seen Leonard steer； but I had heard a good deal about it。 I
had heard it said that the crankiest old tub afloatone that would kill
any other man to handlewould obey and be as docile as a child when Jack
Leonard took the wheel。 I had a chance one night to verify that for
myself。 We were going up the river； and it was one of the nastiest
nights I ever saw。 Besides that； the boat was loaded in such a way that
she steered very hard； and I was half blind and crazy trying to locate
the safe channel； and was pulling my arms out to keep her in it。 It was
one of those nights when everything looks the same whichever way you
look： just two long lines where the sky comes down to the trees and where
the trees meet the water with all the trees precisely the same height
all planted on the same day； as one of the boys used to put itand not a
thing to steer by except the knowledge in your head of the real shape of
the river。 Some of the boats had what they call a 'night hawk' on the
jackstaff； a thing which you could see when it was in the right position
against the sky or the water； though it seldom was in the right position
and was generally pretty useless。
〃I was in a bad way that night and wondering how I could ever get through
it； when the pilot…house door opened； and Jack Leonard walked in。 He was
a passenger that trip； and I had forgotten he was aboard。 I was just
about in the worst place and was pulling the boat first one way； then
another； running the wheel backward and forward； and climbing it like a
squirrel。
〃'Sam；' he said； 〃let me take the wheel。 Maybe I have been over this
place since you have。'
〃I didn't argue the question。 Jack took the wheel； gave it a little turn
one way； then a little turn the other； that old boat settled down as
quietly as a lambwent right along as if it had been broad daylight in a
river without snags； bars； bottom； or banks； or anything that one could
possibly hit。 I never saw anything so beautiful。 He stayed my watch out
for me； and I hope I was decently grateful。 I have never forgotten it。〃
The old note…book contained the record of many such nights as that； but
there were other nights； too； when the stars were blazing out； or when
the moon on the water made the river a wide mysterious way of speculative
dreams。 He was always speculating； the planets and the remote suns were
always a marvel to him。 A love of astronomythe romance of it； its vast
distances； and its possibilitiesbegan with those lonely river…watches
and never waned to his last day。 For a time a great comet blazed in the
heavens； a 〃wonderful sheaf of light〃 that glorified his lonely watch。
Night after night he watched it as it developed and then grew dim； and he
read eagerly all the comet literature that came to his hand； then or
afterward。 He speculated of many things： of life； death； the reason of
existence； of creation； the ways of Providence and Destiny。 It was a
fruitful time for such meditation； out of such vigils grew those larger
philosophies that would find expression later； when the years had
conferred the magic gift of phrase。
Life lay all ahead of him then； and during those still watches he must
have revolved many theories of how the future should be met and mastered。
In the old notebook there still remains a well…worn clipping； the words
of some unknown writer； which he had preserved and may have consulted as
a sort of creed。 It is an interesting little documenta prophetic one；
the reader may concede：
HOW TO TAKE LIFE。Take it just as though it wasas it isan
earnest； vital； and important affair。 Take it as though you were
born to the task of performing a merry part in itas though the
world had awaited for your coming。 Take it as though it was a grand
opportunity to do and achieve； to carry forward great and good
schemes； to help and cheer a suffering； weary； it may be
heartbroken； brother。 Now and then a man stands aside from the
crowd； labors earnestly； steadfastly； confidently； and straightway
becomes famous for wisdom； intellect； skill； greatness of some sort。
The world wonders； admires； idolizes； and it only illustrates what
others may do if they take hold of life with a purpose。 The
miracle； or the power that elevates the few； is to be found in thei