Page:Memoirs of the late John Kippen, cooper, in Methven, near Perth.pdf/3

 for several years, until he came to be 12 or 13 years of age, when he was bound an apprentice to a cooper, who lived only about a mile from his father's house. During the time he had been at school, he had learned to read, and write a tolerable hand, knew the common rules of Arithmetic, and what is rather uncommon at a country school, he had learnt as much geography, as enabled him to describe the latitude and longitude of any place in the map. Thus accomplished, young Kippen went upon his new occupation, and though it was ill suited to his lively and enterprising disposition, he acquitted himself so well, that he had the applause of his master & the good will of ill the customers. In those days it was the common practice with country Coopers, to travel round among their customers, in order to repair their dairy, and other utensils; and in this way our hero had frequently an opportunity of displaying his wit, and excercising his