an old woman with a basket of cucumbers, he bought them, and by selling them again, realised ninepence.  Truly in his case the boy was father to the man.  But, what was notable in him, he would give away his accumulated profits all at once, in the purchase of a hymn-book, or for the relief of some poor person.  Even then, it was not for sordid or selfish ends that he trafficked.  In these early years, his singular tact also came out.  ‘I remember,’ he said, ’about 1806 or 1807, a young man called on my mother, from Mr D——­ of Shepton, to solicit orders in the grocery trade.  His introduction and mode of treating my mother were narrowly watched by me, particularly when she asked the price of several articles.  On going in to my father, she remarked, there would be no advantage in dealing with Mr D——­, as she could not see that his prices were any lower than those she was in the habit of giving.  I slipped aside, and began to think:  “Why, that young man might have got my mother’s trade, if he had known how; if, instead of mentioning so many articles, he had just offered one or two at a lower price than we have been in the habit of giving, she would have been induced to try those articles; and thus he would have been introduced, most likely, to her whole trade:  beside, his manner was rather loose, and not of the most modest and attractive kind.”  I believe the practical lesson then learned has, since that, been worth to me thousands of pounds—­namely, Self-interest is the mainspring of human actions:  you have only to lay before persons, in a strong light, that what you propose is to their own interest, and you will generally accomplish your purpose.’  There are certainly few boys of twelve years who would have caught up such an idea as this from so common-place a circumstance.

By the time he was fourteen, he had realised thirty pounds by private barter.  He gave the money to help his parents.  When put as apprentice to an elder brother, a grocer in Kingswood Hill, it might have been expected that he would speedily distinguish himself; and so he might have done as far as intellect was concerned; but, unluckily, his strength was at first inadequate for his duties, and his brother actually sent him away as hopeless.  With great difficulty, he made his way into another trader’s employment, and there he gave entire satisfaction.  His brother, then, reclaimed him, and though offered a higher salary where he was, he returned to serve out his time.  Long before that period had arrived, he was beginning to soar above retail business.  ’The markets were well watched, every advantage of time or change turned to account, and his singular power of cheap buying exerted with all vigour.  The trade steadily grew; every now and then those in their own line were surprised at the sales they were able to make, and the neighbourhood resounded with the news of the great bargains to be had at Budgett’s.  As custom increased, so did envy and accusation.  Many scrupled