SHREWDNESS AND RETICENCE. 251 



were of the labouring class, from whom he could 

 have received few, if an}', of the advantages of educa- 

 tion. He was married twice, his first wife being one 

 of his own earlier rank in life, more studious of her 

 husband's comfort than of appearances. His first 

 occupation was to clean out engines ; for which pur- 

 pose boys of about twelve years old were generally 

 employed. He did this so well, and with such un- 

 tirinsr energy, that in a short time he had saved 

 enough to promise himself a treat. This treat was to 

 walk on foot to the races, about thirteen miles from 

 the scene of his work, intending to win something, or 

 lose what little he had laid by by his early industry. 

 Fortune favoured his selections with such unwaver- 

 ing success, that when he returned home at night 

 he at once determined to leave the cleaning of 

 engines to others, and to follow racing, and become a 

 backer of horses. Like every other adventurous 

 person, he soon left his native place and the scene of 

 his early success for London ; and, like Johnson and 

 Garrick, reached it on foot. 



He entered on his new occupation full of youthful 

 hopefulness, and no long time elapsed before he 

 became a man in request as a commission agent. He 

 possessed certain sterling qualities that led to this 

 success. Not least of these was the dogged de- 

 termination which caused him in early life to lose 

 no opportunity to secure a prize, however small, 

 when within his reach. He was always to be seen 



