The hours hung heavily upon me and in the work itself I took no pleasure; but the cloud had a silver lining, as it gave me the feeling that I was doing something for my world--our family.

I have made millions since, but none of those millions gave me such happiness as my first week's earnings.

I was now a helper of the family, a breadwinner, and no longer a total charge upon my parents.

Often had I heard my father's beautiful singing of "The Boatie Rows" and often I longed to fulfill the last lines of the verse: "When Aaleck, Jock, and Jeanettie, _Are up and got their lair_,[11] They'll serve to gar the boatie row, And lichten a' our care." [Footnote 11: Education.] I was going to make our tiny craft skim.

It should be noted here that Aaleck, Jock, and Jeanettie were first to get their education.
Scotland was the first country that required all parents, high or low, to educate their children, and established the parish public schools.
Soon after this Mr.John Hay, a fellow-Scotch manufacturer of bobbins in Allegheny City, needed a boy, and asked whether I would not go into his service.