INTRODUCTOIiy. 9 



These caps the front piece was made of old boot le^, 

 Each one covered with the same cloth it was made. 

 These caps -were both lined with different colors too; 

 They were very good caps — it was then the best J could do. 



The shoemakers trade I must try that work to do. 

 No lasts I had ; them first I will have to make too. 

 The children's feet all vary in many different degree, 

 And 1 must liav a pair that will fit me. 



In an old woodshed these lasts wore made 

 With an ax and an old jackknife blade ; 

 "With my gimlet I bored the holes through 

 To make a place to pull the last out of the shoe. 



A string I tied in the hole to pull out the last, 



For sometimes I would get my shoes all pegged fast 



I got along very well for a while in this way ; 



1 would like* to hav a hook to pull the last — sometime I may. 



My pegging awl and pegs them I all made » 



"When I commenced first to work at the shoemaker's trade, 

 After my kit and stock all rigged I had got. 

 In my father's old kitchen 1 opened my shop. 



My father had a large family. There was always leather round, 

 Go up garret at any time there it could bo found, 

 "With five or six little brothers all gathered around me. 

 How tins work was going to be done they all wanted to see. 



Thiough the course of the day I had made some progress at this 



trade — 

 I had repaired several pair of shoes — no charges I mader 

 As we sat m front of the old fireplace in a half circle round, 

 My father was a chopper. He came in with his ax and with us sat 



down. 



My father was as hard working man as ever you see, ^ 



He soon had his lap full of children — two on each knee. 

 After working all day in the woods in the cold, 

 All the evening this lap full of children he would hold. 



