One of the Wonders of the Age; or, The Life and Times of Rev. Johnson Olive

p. 17I was born and raised in the county of Chatham, State of North Carolina. My parents were poor, but honest and industrious. They had eight children, four sons and four daughters. I was next to the oldest child ; my birth took place June the 7th, A. D. 1816. My father had a small farm on which he labored, to gain a living for himself and family. I, being the first son, was taught to assist my father in cultivating his farm at a very early age, in the best manner that I was able. 1 had several uncles, brothers to my parents, who lived near by, and by them I was petted, and made to believe that I was as smart as any boy of my age. I would do any thing that was in my power if they requested it. I always felt pleasant and safe when in their presence. My attachment towards them became as strong as life.

"I love them all with a free good will, And upon my honor I love them still."

p. 18At five or six years of age my parents started me to school. The custom of the neighborhood at that time was to have a school three months in the fall of each year, spelling, reading, writing, and the first or primary principles of arithmetic were the sciences taught. I soon became attached to the school. I loved my teacher, and he taught me to endeavor to excel the other boys of my age. This made me feel a little vain, but I generall}^ succeeded in standing at the head of my class. At the age of eight or ten years I was looked upon by those who knew me best as being very smart, and exhibiting some signs of more than ordinary intellect. However this might have been, I am sure they acted very imprudently in speaking of it as they did in my presence. It did me no good then, and I have sometimes felt that it has injured me since.

p. 18When about twelve years of age my health failed, not by any violent disease, but I lingered into a feeble and sickly condition ; my energy and courage became considerably abated. M}^ keen and penetrating eyes, of which my friends and relatives had so often with admiration spoken in my hearing, now became dull and languid. My cheeks were pale and swarthy, and my voice was no longer cheerful as it had formerly been. I continued in this debilitated state of health for several years, never confined, but always delicate and feeble. I could generally follow the plough and assist in cultivating the farm, and in the fall season go to school, but all the time regretting that I could not feel and appear like other boys who w^ere in the enp. 19joyment of good health. Notwithstanding the feeble and dormant state of my constitution, there was a vein of native humor flowing from ray heart, and revealing itself in my life and conversation sufficient to attract attention and make my company agreeable to other boys. It was customary for the boys in the neighborhood where I lived to meet together on the Sabbath and amuse themselves in playing at ball and base, and some other games of youthful sport, and after a while they would spend a portion of that holy day in hunting game with their dogs; none of us were allowed to carry a gun. I became very much attached to this snort and would join them as often as I could ; being quite small and light, and always fond of climbing trees, I had become quite expert in that business, so that I was selected by general consent to climb trees after squirrels whiletlieother boys would stand around with dogs and sticks to secure the game whenever he should spring from the tree ; in this way we often succeeded in taking those nimble animals. I have often regretted that I and the boys of the neighborhood were suffered to follow this dangerous sport, and that on" the Sabbath da3^thus making it sinful as well as dangerous; but I might remark here, that religion at that period was at a very low ebb in the section of country where I was born. There were but few heads of families who were members of the church, and very few young persons who made any pretensions to religion. There was but little open profanity among the people of that neighborhood, and as a general thing they were an honest, industrious, and moral comp. 20munity. The nearest church was some four or five miles distant ; my parents as well as many others generally attended preaching once a month, and in justice to our parents, I might say they did not approve of the course which their children pursued in the sporls above named, but being indulgent they did not positively forbid it. Thus were spent several years of my youthful life, my health continuing to be feeble, and my growth scarcely perceptible. My two oldest sisters were growing up to maturity, and I remaining as feeble and dwarfish in appearance as ever. My sisters were anxious to visit and be in company with young people, and especially to go to preaching, and they wished me to go with them. I had no inclination to go with them to f)reaching, for it did not suit my taste. I would rather spend the Sabbath with ray companions in the neighborhood.

p. 20When I was about fifteen years of age I was prevailed on by my mother and sisters to go with my sisters to a camp-meeting, and as some of our relations were to tent on the camp grt/Und we were to stay several days if w^e wished to do so ; and as an inducement for me to go my mother got me a new suit of clothes, and my father bought me a new fur hat. Tl:is pleased me very much, and I remember after having dressed myself, that I thought all would do very well except my pale face and swarthy complexion. This I could not help but thought it spoiled my looks.