That I might not often incur their censure, I strove by all possible
means to do everything to please them. My parents had a large family of
children; there was a great deal to be done, and our mother was always
in feeble health. I felt that I could not do enough, each day, in
sweeping, dusting, mending, &c., besides the ordinary occupation of each
day, that I might gratify my father, for he was very careful and tender
of our mother. I was not conscious of a disposition to outvie my
brothers and sisters, but when anything of consequence was to be done I
would exert myself to the utmost in my efforts to accomplish the largest
share. When we went into the garden or the fields to gather fruits or
vegetables, I was constantly influenced to be diligent, and to make
haste and gather all I could, so that on our return home I might receive
the plaudit, "Well done, good and faithful child." So it was in knitting
and sewing. That I might be able to accomplish more and more each day, I
would often induce one or more of my sisters to strive with me, to see
which could do the most in a given period.

So profitable did I find this excitement, that I often carried the
practice into my hours of study, as when my busy fingers plied the
needle. And often when I had no one to strive with me, I would strive
with myself, by watching the clock,--that is, I would see if I could not
knit or sew this hour more than I did the previous hour, if I could not
commit to memory more verses, or texts, or lessons, than I had the last
hour.

In this way I not only cultivated habits of vigorous efforts, but I
acquired that cheerful, happy disposition which useful occupation is
always sure to impart. In this way, too, I obtained that kind of
enthusiasm when anything of importance was to be done, that a boy has