This idea Mr.Howland sought to discourage in his son; but Edward never gave it up.

Soon after he was twenty-one, an offer to go into a business, that promised a large return was made, provided a few thousand dollars capital could be furnished.

Not a moment did Edward rest until he had prevailed upon his father, ever too ready to yield a weak compliance to the wishes of this son, to place in his hands the amount of money required.

To do this, was, at the time, no easy matter for Mr.
Howland, whose own business was far from being as good as usual and whose pecuniary affairs were not in the most easy condition.

Six thousand dollars was the amount of capital he was obliged to raise, and it was not accomplished without considerable sacrifice.
Edward and his partner were what are usually called "enterprising young men," and they drove ahead in the business they had undertaken at a kind of railroad speed, calculating their profits at an exceedingly high range.