Poetry > Ballads in the Cumberland dialect

LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.
xi
iliale for the long period of more than fifty years,
from whom our author received what may be
termed the finishing of his education,—though he
had only just completed his tenth year when he
was transferred from the school to the less con-
genial labours of a Calico-Print Work, there to
earn a weekly pittance to aid in support of his
aged father, his mother having died a short time
previously. At this period of his life Anderson
was fond of drawing, and used to devote his
evenings to that pursuit, his productions generally
putting a few pence in his pocket, by which he
, was enabled to procure the reading of books from
ft a Circulating Library. The works of Addison,
(Pope, Fielding, and Smollet, were his favourite
| studies.
* In November, 1783, Anderson, being then about
(, 13 years of age, entered upon that occupation
( which was the chief manual employment of his
'future life—that of a pattern drawer for Calico-
sprinting. He was at that time bound apprentice
t in the concern of Messrs. T. Losh and Co., of
Denton Holme, near Carlisle. At the expiration
of his apprenticeship he went to London, to fulfil
. an engagement in his business. Unfortunately
for himself, he had pledged his word to serve a
deceitful wretch, whom he was compelled to
arrest for wages, earned by long study and close
application. The distress occasioned by the
dishonesty of his employer was beyond descrip¬
tion. The poet was for several months confined
! to a wretched garret, from which he seldom durst
; venture; and had it not been for the kindness of
■I his sister, his life would have been forfeited to
want and misery. He at length had the good