Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/28

12 was in my estimation one of the most amiable and affectionate of men. The pupils were few in number, not more than seven or eight, so that he devoted a great deal of attention to us. There was one great drawback, however, to our progress,—we lost during the nine months much of what we had acquired in three, so that the second winter it required some time to review before we entered on new ground. The third winter that I had the pleasure of attending this much loved teacher there was a general stagnation in business, so that the weavers could get no employment. I could find nothing else to do, so I attended school all day as well as in the evening for eleven weeks; and this was the only period I was permitted to attend a day school since I was little more than nine years old.

“I was just beginning a course in geometry, when I was hired by a farmer in the neighborhood to watch a field of newly sown wheat to protect it from the crows, and afterwards I was employed in herding cattle. This broke in sadly upon my darling pursuits. The fences were so bad that | could rarely venture to open a book. On one occasion I sat down upon the top of a stone wall covered with turf, and read a portion of the Book of Job. My attention was soon riveted on the subject, and I entirely forgot my duty. When I looked up from the Bible, there was not a cow in sight. I ran to an adjoining height, and lo, the whole herd had jumped the fence, and were quietly feeding in an adjoining field. From that time I had to deny myself the gratification of reading, and a severe trial I found it to be. The times however improved, and as I succeeded in getting a web to weave, by which I could earn more money than by herding, I was released from this unhappy position, and restored to my old favorites.