Burritt was obliged to confess that he had.
“Oh,” said he, “I’m the boy to whom you gave the watch. I’m now a student of Harvard College.”
After chatting for a bit, Burritt said,—
“I should like to have that watch back again.”
“You shall,” said the student. “I sold it, but I know where it is.”
In a few days he received the watch, which hung for many years in his printing-office as a memento of early vicissitudes.
Michael Faraday, unquestionably one of the greatest English chemists and natural philosophers, had few educational advantages before he was apprenticed to a bookbinder in Blandford Street, Manchester Square, and while working at his trade he constructed an electrical machine and other scientific apparatus. These having been seen by his master, Mr. Riebau, he called the attention of Mr. Dance to them, and he took the boy with him to hear the last four lectures delivered by Sir Humphry Davy at the Royal Institution. Faraday took copious notes of the lectures, and afterwards wrote them out fairly in a quarto volume, and sent it to Sir Humphry, begging him for employment, that he might quit the trade he hated, and follow science, which he loved. The answer is a model of kindness and courtesy:
“December 24th, 1812.
“Sir,
“I am far from displeased with the proof you have given me of your confidence, and which displays great zeal, power of memory, and attention. I am obliged to go out of town, and shall not be settled in town till the end of January. I will then see you at any time you wish. It would gratify me to be of any service to you. I wish it may be in my power.