DR. WILLIAM HENRY GRAVES

"It so happened that Dr. Graves was attending someone at home-when he was going away he saw me and asked Mother, 'What are you going to do with this boy?'

'Oh, I think he will be a teacher or get into some office, for the Dock Company and merchants in the City and others are constantly making applications at the school for boys for various purposes, when the boy is older he will find plenty, for his master says he is a clever boy, although he does not show it - he does not show it - he works hard at his lessons.'

'Well', said the Doctor, 'I want someone in the evening just to carry out the medicines. Let me have him - he can continue to go to school just the same.'

So it was agreed that I should carry around the medicines in a wicker basket with two flaps, no matter what kind of weather it should be, and was to receive I think half a crown per week!

I was delighted with the arrangement and fell into the duties for I knew the streets of London very well. I thought it very hard that Mother would not allow me to spend my earnings but make me put them into the Savings Bank to save the money, as she said for a rainy day, which meant for some useful purpose.

When probably I was about fourteen years of age Dr. Graves proposed to my mother that he would make me an apprentice for a couple of years that I might learn dispensing and so forth or in short that I might become a chemist and druggist, which he thought would suit me very well. He said, 'Of course he will have to leave school, but this is of less consequence, because he will have nearly every afternoon for himself to read and learn what is necessary. So you can send him to school early in the morning and he can learn his lessons in the afternoon.'

My father was at this time ill- and soon after died aged I think 54 years, but before he died the deeds were made out and so I became an apprentice.' My father was at this time ill- and soon after died aged I think 54 years, but before he die the deeds were made out and so I became an apprentice."

One day Dr. Graves said to me or rather to my mother, that I had been a very good boy during his illness, had made great progress and now if Mother wished and would consent, he would cancel the articles of apprenticeship of the past, so that I might become a practitioner like himself -The question of cost of this education came up, but mother said, 'Never mind my son, you shall be a doctor if you like even if I have to pawn my cloths to pay the cost-we can work at all events.'" John Sebastian Helmcken (BCARS: ADD.MSS.505,v.12.)

John Sebastian New Doctor in Land

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