When quite young, the son disliked close confinement in school, the task of poring over books being to him rather dry and irksome; but his father said to him that he must either study or go to work in the mill. At the latter place he was soon found engaged in a work well calculated to dispel boyish romance in a summary manner. He almost repented making this choice, but pluckily "stuck to the work" with the indomitable perseverance so often displayed in after life, and was employed as a bobbin-boy for a year by the company. He then entered Wrentham Academy, where he remained, making progress in his studies, for a year and a half, when his father was compelled to inform him that he had met with serious losses by reason of the failure of the company, and that he, Phinehas, would now leave the academy and go to work. The father very much regretted feeling obliged to take this course, having cherished the hope of being able to give his son a thorough education. The latter readily accepted the situation, replied to his father that he was ready and willing to work, but, that if he must go to work in a mill, he preferred that it should be in a large one, and not in a "one-horse concern;" for he desired a wide field and the best possible opportunities to gain a knowledge of the business in its many details. One of the greatest events in the commercial history of our country was the founding of the "City of Spindles," in 1821. Very naturally, the junior Adams was led to go there to gain his desired knowledge. On the 10th of November, 1829, he proceeded to Lowell, and at the age of fifteen became employed as bobbin-boy in the mills of the Merrimack company. At that time, the company had only about thirty thousand spindles in its mills. In these early days of manufacturing, the system was adhered to in Lowell of keeping fierce bull-dogs--one, at least--in each mill. They were liberally fed with fresh meat, _not_ for the purpose of making them _less_ savage, and chained near the entrance to the mill, making effectual sentinels while the watch-_men_ were making their rounds. This custom was followed until about 1831. Mr. Adams was early possessed of an ambition to become an overseer; and to this end he labored hard and faithfully, never thinking or dreaming, however, that he would become agent of a large mill. This was his real beginning, the wedding to his long and uninterrupted manufacturing life, the "golden wedding" anniversary of which event occurred in November, 1879.