Note 41 — Chapter II
Reading edition
Brown relates: "From fifteen to twenty years old, he spent most of his time at the Tanner & Currier's trade keeping Bachelor's hall; & he officiating as Cook; & for most of the time as foreman of the establishment under his Father. During this time he found much trouble with some of the bad habits I have mentioned:... but his close attention to business; & success in its management; together with the way he got along with a company of men & boys made him quite a favorite;... From Fifteen years and upward he felt a good deal of anxiety to learn; but could only read & study a little; both for want of time; & on account of inflamation of the eyes. He however managed by the help of books to make himself tolerably well acquainted with common Arithmetic; & Surveying: which he practiced more or less after he was Twenty years old."—Appendix. IV.