5G5 
him any school instruction. A lady, the wife of his father’s 
employer, however, took such an interest in him, from the pre- 
cocity of his mind, that she put him to a small day school to learn 
reading, which in those days formed the sum total of the education 
of almost all except the higher classes of society. In this he made 
such proficiency that in half a year his patroness, thinking lie 
might be of some service to his mother, advised her to get him 
some work to do. She accordingly sent him to a relation who was 
a shawl weaver, where he used to wind the silk on the bobbins, 
for the loom. 
“ The love of learning began already to display itself, not 
satisfied with what lie possessed, which was more than many in 
his station of life, he learned to write during the noon hour, of a 
man who went about teaching it, but feeling the lack of time, ho 
continued only a quarter of a year, and shortly after, being 
employed by a cord-spinner [Mr. Thurlow], ho bought a copy- 
book, and taught himself. 
“At this time the bent of his mind was perceptible. His only 
recreation was the few books he was enabled to purchase by his 
little earnings, and the few religious books his mother possessed. 
Often has he spoken of the zest with which he perused and 
reperused ‘ Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress,’ and a large picture 
Bible, and that boy’s own book, ‘Ilobinson Crusoe.’ 
“In 1800 (i) an organ being erected in St. George’s Colegate, 
in which parish he lived, he was engaged with several other lads 
to form a choir, and thus was introduced to John Herring. Esq., 
Alderman [at one time Mayor] of this city. This gentleman was 
much pleased with him, and offered employment in his manu- 
factory [for weaving camlets, bombazines, etc.]. 
“ On this new occupation he entered when eleven years old, and 
was at first employed in packing, etc., in the warehouse, and 
occasionally in writing. Mr. Herring [by the wish of Madam 
Herring] gave him nearly half a year’s instruction at an evening 
school in arithmetic and accounts, and this, with what has been 
mentioned above, was all that ho ever enjoyed of the advantages 
of education. At the age of fourteen lie was apprenticed to this 
gentleman to learn the manufacturing business, and went in the 
course of the following seven years through the regular course of 
the instruction, in combing, warping, and weaving. In the first 
s s 
