Every one knows how distinguished he eventually became.
Samuel Richardson, while writing his novels, stuck to his trade of a bookseller.

He sold his books in the front shop, while he wrote them in the back.

He would not give himself up to authorship, because he loved his independence.

"You know," he said to his friend Defreval, "how my business engages me.

You know by what snatches of time I write, that I may not neglect that, and that I may preserve that independency which is the comfort of my life.