On his wau down the MississippI, he ran out of funds and was persuaded bu a steamboat pilot to Hte found his lifeduring become his apprentice this period both instructive and interestin Later he was to say,"I got personally and familiarly acquainted with aboutall the differenttypes of human nature HENRY VAN DYKE AT NORFOLK, CONNECTICUT Every summer Doctor van Dyke satisfies his" wishing to go afishing ' in the little rivers and lakes of New England or Canada. NC. Experiences on the Mississippi River On his way down the Mississippi , he ran out of funds and was persuaded by a steamboat pilot to become his apprentice . He found his life during this period both instructive and interesting. Later he was to say, ”I got personally and familiarly acquainted with about all the different types of human nature……