Dave Ranney | Page 3

when I was roaming over the world,
thinking of my old schoolmates! I could name over a dozen who were
filling positions of trust in their own city; lawyers, surrogates, judges,
and some in business for themselves, making a name and doing
something, while I was no earthly use to myself or to any one else.
Some people say, "Such is life; as you make your bed so you must lie."
How true it was in my case! I made my bed and had to lie on it, but I
can truthfully say I did not enjoy it.
There are many men that are down and out now who had a chance to be
splendid men. They are now on the Bowery "carrying the
banner"--which means walking the streets without a place to call
home--without food or shelter, but they could, if they looked back to
their early life, see that they were making their beds then, or as the
Bible reads, sowing the seed. Listen, young people, and take heed.
Don't believe the saying, "A fellow must sow his wild oats." The truth
is just this: as you sow so shall you reap. I was sowing when I was
drinking out of the pail of beer, and I surely did reap the drunkard's

portion--misery.
A TRUANT
I was a great hand at playing hookey--that is, staying away from school
and not telling your parents. I would start for school in the morning, but
instead of going would meet a couple of boys and we would hide our
books until closing-time. If any boy was sent to my home with a note, I
would see that boy and tell him if he went he knew what he would get.
He knew it meant a good punching, and he would not go. I would write
a note so that the boy could take it back to the teacher saying that I was
sick and would be at school when I got better.
I remember how I was found out one time. We met as usual--the
hookey-players, I mean--and started down to the Hackensack River to
have a good day. Little did I know what would happen before the day
was over. One of the boys with us went out beyond his depth and was
drowned. I can still hear his cries and see his face as he sank for the last
lime. We all could swim a little, and we tried our best to save him, but
his time had come.
That wound up his hookey-playing, and you would think it would make
me stop too; but no, I went right along sowing the seed, and planting it
good and deep for the Devil.
I recollect the first time I went away from home. It happened this way:
The teacher got tired of receiving notes saying I was sick, and she
determined to see for herself--for I had a lady for teacher in that
class--what the trouble was.
One afternoon whom should I see coming in the gate but my teacher,
and now I was in a fix for fair. I knew if she saw mother it was all up
with me, so I ran and met her and told her mother was out and would
not be back until late. She asked me how I was getting on. I said I was
better and would be at school in the morning. She said, "I am glad of
that."
When she turned to go I could have flung my cap in the air and shouted.

I thought I had fooled her and could go on playing hookey, but you
know the old adage, "There's many a slip." Just at this time my mother
looked out of the window and asked who was there and what she
wanted. Well, mother came down, and things were made straight as far
as she and the teacher were concerned; but I was in for it; I knew that
by the way mother looked at me. The jig was up, I was found out, and I
knew things would happen; and I did not want to be around when
mother said, "You just wait!" I knew what that meant, so I determined
to go out into the world and make my own way.
I was a little over thirteen years of age, and you know a boy does not
know much at that age, but I thought I did. I went over the fence with
mother after me. If dad had been home I guess he could have caught me,
that is if he had been sober. Mother could not run very fast, so I got
clear of the whip for that time at least. I got a good distance from the
house and then I sat down