Of his early boyhood there is little to say, except that he was a favorite at home.
The children's games were merrier when he was among them, and the fireside brighter.

He contributed constantly to the happiness of the family.

Anything of interest that happened to him he was always ready to tell them.

The habit was kept up in after-years.

When he went to study in Glasgow, returning on the Saturday evenings, he would take his place by the fireside and tell them all that had occurred during the week, thus sharing his life with them.