CHAPTER I.

Home of the Author--A Career of Thrilling Experiences--His Birth and Parentage--Early Avocations--Migration from North Carolina to Illinois--Life on the Frontier--Dangers to Early Settlers--A Frontiersman--Father's Advice--More Settlers Come--Churches and Schools--Limited Opportunities--Frozen Feet--Unimpressionable to the Preaching of the Time--Talk of a New Religion, Prophets, Miracles, etc.--Prosecution of the New Church--"Showers of Stars"--Popular Adverse Views of the Mormons--The Mormons Driven from Missouri Into Illinois--Mormon Elder Comes to Preach--Converts Uncle James Brown--Preaches Again--Preparations to Mob the Elder--His Scriptural Doctrine Disconcerts Enemies and Secures him Friends--His Discourse--Effect on Young James S. Brown of the First Gospel Sermon to him--His Testimony to the Spirit and Truth of the Elder's Message.