130 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



George had soon to help in the household, to assist his 

 mother, burdened with the care of the invalids ; and as 

 attendance at school was not then compulsory he was often 

 kept at home, while his own tastes led him to solitary 

 rambles rather than to games or company of other children. 

 Thus, although his parents were anxious to do what they 

 could for their children, he had very little education in school 

 as a child; and in 1848, at the age of 13, he began an 

 apprenticeship to a tailor in Auchterless. From this time 

 onward his opportunities for attending school ceased, apart 

 from Sunday School, which he was expected to go to 

 regularly, for a time, though as often as he could he gave 

 the preference to a ramble in the woods or other homes of 

 the wild creatures in whose ways he took a keen interest. 



But much as he loved a ramble in the country, he did 

 not neglect duty, and he was soon expert in his work. 

 After an apprenticeship of 4^ years he became a journey- 

 man with the same master, and there he remained for a time. 

 His master, when the apprenticeship began had had a good 

 business, but an increasing love of drink brought him to ruin ; 

 and Sim found it necessary to seek work elsewhere. The 

 experience made a deep impression on him, and led him to 

 strive earnestly to save his fellow-workmen from the habit so 

 disastrous to his master. 



For a time he moved from one town to another in Scot- 

 land, England, and Ireland, working as a journeyman tailor. 

 Returning to Scotland he spent some time in Glasgow, then 

 in Turriff for a winter, then for some months in Edinburgh, 

 and for i^ years in Inverness, followed by another winter in 

 Turriff, during which he attended school. Then followed 

 more wanderings, to Inverness, Grantovvn, Turriff, Dublin, 

 and Glasgow. About 1857 he tried his fortune as a tailor 

 on his own account in Turriff ; but soon afterwards a brother 

 who had been trained as a druggist induced him to join in 

 the purchase of a druggist's business in Tarland, and here 

 they spent about two years. 



The brothers were both keen lovers of nature, and found 

 the neighbourhood of Tarland afforded scope for the encourage- 

 ment of their tastes rather than for pushing their business, 

 which did not come up to their expectations, and was sold 



