Of these early and interesting days, during which the future man is seen, like fruit shaping itself amid unfolding bloom, we have a picture drawn by his own hand, and touched off in his own peculiar style.  He says : "When I was twelve years old, I was by no means a favorite with everyone, but had a circle with of select and kindred spirits.  I was neither healthy nor handsome, possessing only a moderate share of each.  I was neither stupid nor cold, but delighted in those amusements administering excitement and pleasure to the mind.  My delight was in rural feats of strength and activity, in drawing the straightest furrow in the field, in mowing the most grass in a given time, and in riding the wildest, fleetest horse on my father's farm.

The industry, sobriety, and virtue, which characterized his early life, were strictly adhered to as he approached manhood.  He was not led into the company of dissipated men, or into the vicious habits adopted by too many of his early associates.  He was involved in no serious difficulties, the result of his own indiscretion, but was faithful to the great principals of morality and religion, impressed upon his youthful mind by the devotion of his pious parents.  This consideration opened the way for his connection with men and companies of great respectability and worth.

In the spring of 1816 he removed with his parents to the town of Little Compton, in the same county.  Here he continued to reside, except when absent at school, or acting as teacher, until his twenty-third year. At this time he entered as clerk in the Fall River Iron Works Company, on trial for six weeks.  Having served out the time, he concluded to leave, but was prevailed upon by the agent to continue.  His wages at this time were only four shillings and sixpence per day, without board or washing; and advance however, on his wages some years before, for he once informed me that he had labored for twelve and a half cents per day.  Having fixed his position, to live within his income, and save something for a trading capital, was the next consideration.  And in order for this, he, with a fellow-laborer, commenced watching a manufacturing establishment at night.  In this way, attending to the duties of clerk by day, and watchman by night, he soon accumulated capital sufficient enough to do a small business, and then a larger, and then still more, his capital and business both increasing.  As the business of his company enlarged, in order to keep up with the delivery, together with the purchase, invoice and billing of goods, he was compelled to devote eighteen hours out of the twenty-four to hard labor.  A porter at this time was not known in Fall River.

The company for whose interest he acted were engaged at this time in erecting factories, stores and dwellings, a part of which was done by the job, and a part by the day; he kept a faithful account of both, in what was called his midnight book.  He noted down all job work, making it a point to visit every department at least four times a day, taking an inventory of all materials used, and fixing the value of the same ; also the number of men employed, how much they were absent; thus ascertaining the actual cost both of the material and the buildings.  In this way, while discharging his duty as clerk, he obtained much information, which has been on incalculable benefit to him.