CHAPTEE III. 

 A PPRENTICESH1I\ 



THE boy was learning idle habits. He refused to go 

 back to the Lancaster school. Indeed, from the cruel 

 treatment he had received there, his parents did not 

 ask him to return. He had now been expelled 

 from three schools. If he went to a fourth, it is pro- 

 bable that he might also have been expelled from 

 that. It would not do for him to go scouring the 

 hills in search of adders, or to bring them home to 

 the " terrification " of his neighbours. He himself 

 wished to go to work. His parents at last gave their 

 consent, though he was then only about six years old. 

 But poor people can always find something for their 

 children to do out of doors. The little that they 

 earn is always found very useful at home. 



Edward's brother, who was about two years older 

 than himself, was working at Craig and Johnston's 

 tobacco work. On inquiry, it was found that the 

 firm was willing to take young Edward at the wage 

 of fourteen -pence a week. The tobacco -spinners 

 worked in an old house situated at the end of the 

 flour mill in St. Nicholas Street. Each spinner had 

 three boys under him the wheeler, the pointer, and 



