For the rest he studied early and late, and experienced the doubtful glory, and accepted meekly the reproach, of being a grind.
History and the dismal science had interested him immensely.

His assiduous attention to the classes of Professor Sumner had not gone unnoticed by that eminent instructor, who once called him by name in Chapel Street, much to Dan's edification.

He thought well of belles-lettres and for a time toyed with an ambition to enrich English literature with contributions of his own.

During this period he contributed to the "Lit" a sonnet called "The Clam-Digger" which began:-- At rosy dawn I see thine argosy; and which closed with the invocation:-- Fair tides reward thy long, laborious days.
The sonnet was neatly parodied in the "Record," and that journal printed a gratuitous defense of the fisherman at whom, presumably, the poem had been directed.

"The sonnet discloses nothing," said the "Record," "as to the race, color, or previous condition of servitude of the unfortunate clammer to justify a son of Eli in attacking a poor man laudably engaged in a perfectly honorable calling.