introduction and mode of treating my mother were narrowly watched by
me, particularly when she asked the price of several articles. On
going in to my father, she remarked, there would be no advantage in
dealing with Mr D----, as she could not see that his prices were any
lower than those she was in the habit of giving. I slipped aside, and
began to think: "Why, that young man might have got my mother's trade,
if he had known how; if, instead of mentioning so many articles, he
had just offered one or two at a lower price than we have been in the
habit of giving, she would have been induced to try those articles;
and thus he would have been introduced, most likely, to her whole
trade: beside, his manner was rather loose, and not of the most modest
and attractive kind." I believe the practical lesson then learned has,
since that, been worth to me thousands of pounds--namely,
Self-interest is the mainspring of human actions: you have only to lay
before persons, in a strong light, that what you propose is to their
own interest, and you will generally accomplish your purpose.' There
are certainly few boys of twelve years who would have caught up such
an idea as this from so common-place a circumstance.

By the time he was fourteen, he had realised thirty pounds by private
barter. He gave the money to help his parents. When put as apprentice
to an elder brother, a grocer in Kingswood Hill, it might have been
expected that he would speedily distinguish himself; and so he might
have done as far as intellect was concerned; but, unluckily, his
strength was at first inadequate for his duties, and his brother
actually sent him away as hopeless. With great difficulty, he made his
way into another trader's employment, and there he gave entire
satisfaction. His brother, then, reclaimed him, and though offered a
higher salary where he was, he returned to serve out his time. Long
before that period had arrived, he was beginning to soar above retail