17
THE SILENT MAN.
Perhaps there never existed a mortal of a more whimsical kind of character than myself. Silence has been my motto from my cradle; nor ever has it been remembered that I uttered three syllables at a time when there was the smallest possibility of making two answer the same end.
It has often been remarked, by those who had the care of me in my infancy, that I never laughed, cried, or expressed the smallest attempt at articulation, notwithstanding every means was employed by my parents which bore the least probability of accomplishing this desired effect.
In this state of taciturnity I continued till I arrived at my fifteenth year, when my father began to entertaiu thoughts of placing me as an apprentice, desiring me to make choice of some profession I should like. After having examined into the whole circle of the arts and sciences, I made choice of a timnir; my reason for giving this the preference was, that I thought it the most
