It was much more agreeable to play the gypsy or the tinker, than to become either in reality.

I had seen enough of gypsying and tinkering to be convinced of that.

All of a sudden the idea of tilling the soil came into my head; tilling the soil was a healthful and noble pursuit! but my idea of tilling the soil had no connection with Britain; for I could only expect to till the soil in Britain as a serf.

I thought of tilling it in America, in which it was said there was plenty of wild, unclaimed land, of which any one, who chose to clear it of its trees, might take possession.

I figured myself in America, in an immense forest, clearing the land destined, by my exertions, to become a fruitful and smiling plain.