32 Life of Count Rumford. 



for by fifteen and a half cords of wood' : a pair of knee buckles : 

 a Chirurgical Knife : c to a Cittern (a Musical Instrument),' 

 and c to the Time I have been absent from your house, nineteen 

 weeks at Forty Shillings : and to the time my Mother washed 

 for me.'" 



Two periods of absence were doubtless those in which 

 the youth was replenishing his funds by keeping school 

 at Wilmington and Bradford, as appears by the fol- 

 lowing entry on another page. 



41 Time of my Absence from Board at Dr. Hays. 

 " From June the nth, 1771 To whitest I was at Cam- 

 bridge attending Mr. Winthrop's Lectures. From DecC the Qth, 

 1771, to Feby the 5th, 1772, keeping School at Wilmington. 

 From March the , 1772, to April , 1772, six weeks and 

 three days, keeping School. On a Journey to Pepperell, three 

 days. On a Journey to Bradford, June the 2d, 1772, absent from 

 Monday morning, before Breakfast, to Friday Night after Supper." 



These entries indicate the frugality and the rigid con- 

 ditions of scrupulous economy and careful calculation 

 by which the youth in the period of his pupilage was 

 compelled to adjust his expenses to his means, while he 

 was dependent upon his own earnings. 



Another entry, without date, acquaints us with the 

 exertion and effort on his own part, added to the outlay 

 for materials above transcribed, which he devoted to the 

 construction of his electrical machine. 



" An Account of what Work I have done towards Getting an 



Electrical Machine. 



" Two or three days work making Wheele. 

 " One half days work making pattern for Small Conductor. 

 " Making pattern for Electrometer. 



" One half day and a horse from hence to B. Tays, then to 

 W. Youngs, from thence to Ich? Richardsons, to try to get 

 Machine made. 



