Page:Recovery from the passage of an iron bar through the head.djvu/14

14 operation, which are no sooner arranged than they are abandoned in turn for others appearing more feasible. A child in his intellectual capacity and manifestations, he has the animal passions of a strong man. Previous to his injury, though untrained in the schools, he possessed a well-balanced mind, and was looked upon by those who knew him as a shrewd, smart business man, very energetic and persistent in executing all his plans of operation. In this regard his mind was radically changed, so decidedly that his friends and acquaintances said he was "no longer Gage."

His mother, a most excellent lady, now seventy years of age, informs me that Phineas was accustomed to entertain his little nephews and nieces with the most fabulous recitals of his wonderful feats and hair-breadth escapes, without any foundation except in his fancy. He conceived a great fondness for pets and souvenirs, especially for children, horses and dogs—only exceeded by his attachment for his tamping iron, which was his constant companion during the remainder of his life. He took to travelling, and visited Boston, most of the larger New England towns, and New York, remaining awhile in the latter place at Barnum's, with his iron. In 1851 he engaged with Mr. Jonathan Currier, of Hanover, New Hampshire, to work in his livery stable. He remained there, without any interruption from ill health, for nearly or quite a year and a half.

In August, 1852, nearly four years after his injury, he turned his back upon New England, never to return. He engaged with a man who was going to Chili, in South America, to establish a line of coaches at Valparaiso. He remained in Chili until July, 1860, nearly eight years, in the vicinity of Valparaiso and Santiago, occupied in caring for horses, and often driving a coach heavily laden and drawn by six horses. In 1859 and '60 his health began to fail, and in the beginning of the latter year he had a long illness,