red the rest of us.
Dick wrote us word that we must earn our own living, but that he would
be a brother to us, and to show his affection he apprenticed me to a
chair-maker, and my slight, delicate young brother Arthur to a
blacksmith.

"Mine was not a bad trade, for furniture was in great demand. `If that
is to be my calling I will go at it,' said I to myself. I did so, and
soon could turn a chair very neatly out of hand. Arthur could make no
hand at the blacksmith work--his arm had not strength to wield a hammer;
I went to his master and asked him to let him off. `No, I never does
anything without an equivalent,' was his answer; `but I'll tell you
what, youngster, I happen to want some chairs for my woman and children
to sit on; now, if you'll make them for me, slick off hand, your brother
shall go free, I guess.' The bargain was struck. I was anxious to get
poor Arthur free, for every day was killing him with labour for which he
was so unfit. I set to work at once, and each moment that I could spare
from my proper duties to my master I employed in making the chairs. I
was determined that he should not say that they were not good chairs--
strong and handsome. The blacksmith was highly pleased with them, and
instantly freed my brother and made me a present of a couple of dollars.
With this sum and a little more I had made by working out of hours, I
set Arthur to trade on his own account, to keep him till my term was
out, which was to be very shortly. From the day I had left school I had
not neglected my studies, and I used to read all the books I could lay
hands on during every spare moment. Life is short enough as it is, and
people make it still shorter by idling away their time. I knew that I
had plenty of work to do, and I found out early that to get it done I
must not lose a moment. I consequently not only kept up the knowledge I
obtained at school, but got a fair amount besides.

"We worked on for three years, I making chairs and Arthur selling them,
saving money, but not very fast. I had no fancy to go on chair-making
all my days, and I wished for a more active life.

"I had paid a visit to Holland's Landing a few months before this, and I
found that my friend, Jack Johnson, was still driving a thriving trade
with the settlement along the shores of the lake; but he had not a good
head for business, and I saw that a great deal more might be made of it
than he made. A steamer was building to run on