Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. APPRENTICESHIP. But how was the battle of life to be fought ? How was George Moore to enter upon the struggle ? Where was he to begin ? In a very small way, as with all beginnings. A draper in Wigton, called Messenger, having intimated to Daniel Wilkinson that he wanted an active boy, Wilkinson immediately answered, " I know the very boy for you!" The boy was George Moore. Wilkinson, being a friend of the Moores, told them that Messenger would come out some day and see his proposed apprentice. John Moore did not welcome the suggestion. He did not wish his boy to be a draper, or anything of the sort. Why should he not " stick by the land," as his fathers had done before him ? He thought it rather humiliating that either of his sons should enter trade. Nevertheless Messenger came out to Mealsgate to see the boy. Old Moore would not hear of George going to Wigton. " If you want a boy take Thomas, but leave me George; he's far the better worker." Thomas, however, would not go. He was the eldest, and the heir to the property. If any one was to go, it must be George. Chap. nl.] APPRENTICESHIP AT WIGTON. 35 Mrs. Moore, George's stepmother, wished him to go. He was a favourite of hers, and seeing his eagerness, she strongly advised his father to let him go to Wigton. She did not think he could be of much use at Mealsgate. He would hang on to the estate; and after all he could never rise much above the rank of farm-servant. Besides, George reiterated his determination to leave home. He could not get even the wages that he earned on the farm. He wanted to do something for himself. He would go to Wigton. In the meantime Messenger had been looking into the lad's face. " I like the look of him very much," said he to his father. " He is strong and active. He's ...