This had a second story in which there were two rooms, and it was in these (free of rent, for my Aunt Aitken owned them) that my parents began housekeeping.

My uncle soon gave up weaving and my father took his place and began making tablecloths, which he had not only to weave, but afterwards, acting as his own merchant, to travel and sell, as no dealers could be found to take them in quantity.

He was compelled to market them himself, selling from door to door.

The returns were meager in the extreme.
[Illustration: ANDREW CARNEGIE AT SIXTEEN WITH HIS BROTHER THOMAS] As usual, my mother came to the rescue.

There was no keeping her down.
In her youth she had learned to bind shoes in her father's business for pin-money, and the skill then acquired was now turned to account for the benefit of the family.