Owing to the
little English he knew, no questions were asked; but it was observed
in the office that he was rapidly improving in this, and in the
facility of doing his work. The paper was a weekly one, consequently
he had ample time for his work, and he improved every moment. The many
mistakes he made in the beginning were attributed to his ignorance of
the language, and it was not until he became the most expert
compositor in the office that it was known that he had never, until he
entered this office, been in a printing-office. He was so abstemious
in his habits that those about the office wondered how he lived. He
rarely left the composing-room, and, in his moments of rest from his
work, was employed in studying the language, or reading some English
author. A bit of cheese, a loaf of bread, some dried fish, and a cup
of coffee constituted his bill of fare for every day, and these were
economically used. He never spoke of home, of previous pursuits, or
future intentions. He held communion with no one--his own thoughts
being his only companions--but steadily persevered in his business.
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