If he has to pay for the milking of his cows, the making of his butter, the cooking of his food, and the nursing of his children, his little margin of profit is soon eaten away; and with the disappearance of this margin, existence becomes a blind struggle.

Even James Grieve, the man of iron will and indomitable industry, was beaten at last in the unequal contest.

The life at the farm became bitter and tragic.

Jenny grew more helpless and more peevish year by year; James was not exactly unkind to her, but he could not but revenge upon her in some degree that ruin of his silent ambitions which her sickliness had brought upon him.
The two sons grew up in the most depressing atmosphere conceivable.
Reuben, who was to have the farm, developed a shy and hopeless taciturnity under the pressure of the family chagrin and privations, and found his only relief in the emotions and excitements of Methodism.

Sandy seemed at first more fortunate.
An opening was found for him at Sheffield, where he was apprenticed to a rope-maker, a cousin of his mother's.