Himself an obscure physician in a remote country town, he brought me up with no other view than to be his own successor.

The profession was not to my liking.

Somewhat contemplative and nervous by nature, there were few pursuits for which I was less fitted.

I knew this, but dared not oppose him.

Loving study for its own sake, and trusting to the future for some lucky turn of destiny, I yielded to that which seemed inevitable, and strove to make the best of it.
Thus it came to pass that I lived a quiet, hard-working home life, while other boys of my age were going through the joyous experience of school, and chose my companions from the dusty shelves of some three or four gigantic book-cases, instead of from the class and the playground.