He grew up strong in mind and body, until about ten years of age, when he had a very severe attack of rheumatic gout in his feet, which very much reduced him, and from which he suffered more or less throughout his life. After this, he had a very narrow escape from the bursting of a gun, which he let off loaded with gravel stones, when sent by a farmer to drive the birds from a field newly-sown with corn. When between the age of thirteen and fourteen he was apprenticed to the boot and shoe business for seven years. He was very quick in learning his trade; but at the age of seventeen, feeling himself grown up quite a man, he did not like…