Winter Evening Tales, Collected Among the Cottagers in the South of Scotland #267330

At fourteen years of age, I was, by my own choice, bound apprentice to a joiner in the neighbourhood, with whom I was obliged to serve out my time, much against my will; fori deemed myself master of the craft, and much superior to my teacher, before half my time was expired. After I had strug gled through it, I went home. My father hinted to me, that I ought to take the wages my late master offered me to con tinue with him, until something better should be found. But this I slighted with high disdain, declaring that I would go to London or America, before I accepted ofless than double the sum proposed: and that, at any rate, was I never, to learn any thing better than making a plough or cart-wheel?