2
Accordingly, this question was made the theme of a second deliberation: What trade is the best and the easiest to learn, is becoming to a free citizen, and calls for least expense in tools while it furnishes a sufficient income? Each member of the council recommended a different trade, according to his theory or experience. But my father looked towards my uncle-for my mother's brother was there, reputed to be a master of the statuary's art—and said, “It would be unseemly if any other craft should carry the day when you are present. So take him" (pointing to me), “receive him in charge, and teach him to be a good stone-worker and mason and sculptor. He has ability to become even this last, and a natural skill in that direction, as you know." The ground of his opinion was my childish play at modelling in wax. Whenever the school-masters let me go, I would fall to scraping the wax from my writing-tablets and fashioning cows and horses, and, upon my word, even men, too, and with some truth to nature--at least my father thought so. The school-masters used to flog me for them; but now this very thing won me praise for my talents, and great hopes that I would speedily master my trade were based on my prowess in modelling.
