George Joseph Vining:
An Account of His Life

Chapter 7

I was successful but fell into bad company and learned to gamble and sometimes I drank.

Good impressions were fading away, again I made a change. This time I went to help in a hotel called the "Farmers" and soon I was advanced to bookkeeper --bar-tender--. The hotel was well patronized the bar more so. I was a good dispenser of liquor. I often had my pocket full of the bar money but I never misappropriated one cent. Here I was when I first met John F. Carr. I was seeing to the guest and I gave him a room. He was on his way to a theological school -- I was on my way seemingly to Hell, but God snatched me away as a firebrand -- praise his Holy name, but I soon realized what I was doing and became disgusted with it. I was sending souls down in chains and fetters, and quit it straight off.

I do not quite know what I was doing when Sam --S.M.-- McGehee in the extreme part of the county --country-- came to town on the hunt of a boy to raise. He was told of me and came to see me. I had been recommended. He was disappointed in my age -- wanted a younger boy. I must have been near 18 at that time. I went home with him. I shall pass over the three years very briefly. You could not say it was an unpleasant nor pleasant home. I had clothes and sufficient food to eat, and enjoyed some beneficial schooling, one session of which was at Sulphur Springs. In one or two instances, they were kind and considerate, twice when I seem to close to death, one time the tree fell on me when they picked me up for dead, and once through severe pneumonia at S. S. caused by some of the boys throwing water on me and burying --rolling-- me in the snow and me not changing clothes.

My life was so lonesome and I was too much to myself and suffered accordingly from lack of sympathy, but they were good religious people. While there I found the Methodist --M.E.-- church. I do not think I was converted -- but was convinced --convicted--, but do as many others before and since that joining was all that was necessary and lived consistent or moral afterwards. I did not know much of repentance, restitution, God's power to save and keep, a growth in grace, Holiness and Sanctification. Mr. McGehee said --promised-- if I would come and live with him, he would give me so much schooling, clothe me and the end of the time he would start me in anything I chose. I kept a small country store and a P O --Post Office-- for him. Well, one morning I told him my time was up. So he asked me what I wanted or what he should do for me, I told them I thought about $25 -$20.00-- in money and a recommendation would be about right.

I had kept account of my clothing, and while I had the privilege of getting the best clothes in Pine Bluff, yet they did not, I think, go over $30 or $40 for over the three years, and goods were much higher than now. I had been ill for some time with dyspepsia and piles for some time, and thought it was from close confinement so I went out to work on a farm for a few months hoping it would get me back my health. I got $8 per month this time, but more dys. -stomach trouble-- from Blk coffee and fried pork, so I came to try the great city, and try again there.

McGehee recommended me to A.A. Rogers. I think I got $16 or $18 per month and boarded in --with-- the family. It was a pleasant home and I enjoyed the work but my health was still bad. Had been there only a few months when Mr. McGehee came to town and had me sent summoned as a witness on some case in the county --country-- --the same time and day, Rogers told me to get aboard a steamboat at the wharf and go down the river and take on a lot of cotton for shipment. When I told him of my being sent to court I remember so well, he got angry and said "young man, back into the office and get what is coming to you." He saw his injustice and tried to make it up to me in many kind ways in after years. He sold me a valuable piece of property on a long credit, endorsed to -for-- me and recommended me to the best dry goods houses in Louisville, Kentucky.

After coming back from my lawsuit, I clerked for Jo Merrill, same prices and boarded in the family -- again it was a pleasant home and Jo Merrill was a good man to work for and pleasant and kind to his employees, but I was laid off with a bad felon on my hand, which a lasted a long time. Sometime during that time I counted up the wealth I had amassed -- it amounted to $64.00. I went into partnership with Mr. Aldridge in the bakery business -- went slow at first then by jumps soon: will explain farther on.

All this time I had very little to do with, barely hearing from, or of my sisters. I think I had grown intensely selfish, but I may have forgot -- yet later events make me think my diagnosis was correct. They had been living at or near Sulphur Springs, but on hearing of my success I think they moved to town, but perhaps only sisters came to live with me in the back part of the store. The bro in law forged a small order, but to do him justice I now think it was in ignorance for although he would guilty of forgery the man really did owe him the amount, and he thought he would take this way of getting his money. I am not sure if he was tried, but by connivance of the officers he was allowed to escape, so my two sisters -- Fanny had two children -- came to live with me.

I was doing well, wonderfully well, bought the house we first went to, sold it and the business out on good terms -- got recommendation from McGehee to New Orleans, had good grocery business, for those days. I do not remember the details of our home life, perhaps it's best I don't, yet my memory gets wonderful vivid later on. I may not have been fully aspired by --assured of-- my position and it was perhaps some later that I took the "big jump," but I do not want to excuse myself one little bit as to my moral character, for a little incident that has caused me more genuine bitter remorse than any and every other thing in my life.

I repeat, as I said I do not remember our home life at this time. Sister Fanny kept house for me, but that she had lost her spirits, defeated, sorrowful, cast down, needing sympathy, comfort, and the love so many poor burdened women so seldom get. I must have been mean and stingy. I remember at dinner one-day I said something perhaps both brutal and cutting in regard to burden or expense, she and her children were to me. I seem to see her look even now, as Caesar looked down when he saw Brutus among his enemies -- yes as the Savior looked when Peter denied Him. She had no appetite, required but little. I did not have even sense enough to know that she would save me money but the devil got the best of me that day. She seemed to fail from that day, and on her sick bed, said she did not want to get well. I do not remember if I even tried to apologize or comfort her afterwards -- I have been punished for it.

Soon after her death -- I do not think I mourned for her till many years had passed -- I mourn more today than I did then -- A R --Rogers-- of whom I previously wrote, gave the recommendation, and I prepared to go to Louisville, Ky. for my dry goods, etc. etc. I do not know, but think Brother Tom and his family moved in about that time perhaps it was only to stay with Bessie while I was away. The night came for me to take the boat, sister went part of the way with me and at parting, kissed me and put her arms about my neck and tears streaming down her face, said "George, I'll not be here when you come back." I made some light reply, but in a choked voice she said, "I'll be dead, you will never see me alive again." Strange it made no impression on me. I never questioned her as to her reason, causes, etc. I think the old Devil had me full of myself and my pleasure or business,

I suppose it took the best part of 3 weeks by boat both ways with the time I spent there at Louisville. In coming back up of the river a few hours from home, I was in a game of cards with all the abandon of an old player, and did not quit till the boat whistled for Pine Bluff; after I got up from the table a friend that had got on the boat shortly before, asked me in a low tone of voice if I knew my sister was dead. I told him no, I had not heard from home since I left -- why did he let me play etc. etc. Her words came back to me with an overpowering rush since regrets were vain, and again I had a taste of remorse. I went home feeling desolate and asked Bro Tom for the details -- they were meager and unsatisfactory. They both lie buried side-by-side in the old graveyard -- by the side of them are the little left of the remains of dear Mother and Aunt, which I myself brought up from the first old stone grave I wrote of in -- first "home" we knew in this country.