CHAPTER V. 



DICK BEGINS BUSINESS. 



DICK began business for himself at the age of twenty. 

 His house was in Wilson's Lane, not far from the old 

 church. The river Thurso flows past the bottom of the 

 lane into the sea, which is close at hand. 



Mr. Smith, of Olrig, was the proprietor. After he 

 had built a small oven behind the house and added it 

 to the shop, Dick went over from his father's house to 

 live there and begin his trade. The only other baker in 

 the town was a Mr. Mackay, who was also a Baptist 

 preacher. 



There was not much trade to be done ; but Eobert 

 baked a little every day, and sold his bread over the 

 counter. When he was out, his sister Jane attended to 

 the business. He contrived to live on very small earn- 

 ings, for he had only himself to provide for. He required 

 very little capital, for every day's batch returned the 

 money's worth of the flour, as well as the profit to the 

 baker. 



Shortly after he began business, we find him writing 

 to Mr. Aikman, of Tullibody, and requesting him to send 

 four bags of third flour, one bag of second, and one bag 

 of best. Mr. Aikman sent the flour to Thurso. Dick 



