ae

16 Fred the Apprentice.

dislike to learning, and became a very good
scholar, so far as was taught him in the class.

Fred and his brother Francis had for some
time left the miserable garret in which their
mother died, and were now boarding with a
Mrs, Ridler, an old friend of their late mother.
In her more comfortable sitting-room Fred
applied himself to study at night,-to prepare his
lessons for the next evening. This determined
perseverance could not fail to bring its own
reward, and in course of time Fred was able to
read and write. During this time he wished
to give some lessons to Francis, who did not
work in the same factory; but all his offers and —
entreaties were in vain.

‘Of what use would it be for me to know how
to read and write, to help me to spin cotton?’
Francis would answer.

Fred was at last obliged to cease trying to
overcome the idleness of his brother. Two years
passed away, during which Mr. Kartmann again
increased the wages of Fred, who went on
steadily with his lessons. When at his studies
at night he often fell asleep after the hard work
of the day; but imitating, without knowing it,
the example of an ancient philosopher, he got