Though small of body, and, even after the recovery of my health and the use of my limbs, a dwarf in strength as well as in stature, I yet grew into the possession of a brisk and courageous spirit: no one could disparage my capacity either in school-learning or the craft of our business. My father being a nailer, I was brought up to his trade, and in it equalled all, and surpassed many of my work-fellows, being so stirred with a lively desire to excel.

This zeal of emulation animated me in every undertaking. I remember an occurrence which took place in my fourteenth year, and which, though in itself a boyish adventure, I have often since thought was an epitome of my whole conduct in life.

The eldest son of the Duke of Buccleugh had come of age, and among other gratulations, fire-works were to be displayed in the evening in front of the palace; and, that the people in our village might join in the festivity, the drummer was sent round to give notice, that the gates of the park would be set open for half an hour, and that all those who came in time would be admitted. Something, which I have forgotten, detained me too long, for just as I reached the gates, the time had expired, and they were shut.

I was both mortified and disappointed to be so excluded, and proposed to some other lads, who were in the same situation, that we should scale the park wall, which was ten feet high, built of stone and smoothly harled; but none would agree to this, prudently remarking, that should they be able to attain the top, we knew not the danger of getting down, nor the perils which might lie in ambush on the other side, especially as it was known that a deep ditch was to be leapt over, and that man-traps and spring guns were set in different parts of the policy. Spring guns I may here describe, for the edification of those who have never seen such engines. They are fixed with wires, running in such a manner, that when the wire is trod upon, the gun wheels round, and shoots or wounds the intruder.