rd; and to his own delight, and the carpenter's astonishment, he
planed one hundred the first day, and received four shillings and
twopence. Once more was Mrs. Garfield struck dumb. Her feelings of
joy and thankfulness could not find expression in words. Was there
ever a mother so blessed with devoted sons? Silently the mother
clasped her boy in her arms, and in this way showed the love she could
not speak.

James continued to spend as much time as he could spare from the farm
work in helping the carpenter, and then, when the winter school opened,
he once more gave all his attention to his studies. The day after the
school closed, the carpenter engaged him to assist in building a barn.
This gave him employment until farming began, and he was paid at the
rate of two shillings a day.

When the work was done, he received four pounds, and what was worth
more, both to him and his worthy mother, the hearty commendation of his
employer, who said, as he gave him the money--

"You have earned every penny of it."

About this time James borrowed a copy of Robinson Crusoe, which he
eagerly devoured. It opened a new world to the lad's inquiring mind,
and awakened within him a strong desire to travel and see something of
the world.

Two or three incidents of his youth may here be told, as they serve to
still further illustrate the different phases of his character.

A friend invited him to make a short excursion to visit an acquaintance
on the Sunday. James at once refused. His friend pleaded that it was
the only day on which the visit could be made, but James would not be
persuaded. He said that it would be against his mother's wishes;
therefore, if he never went, he would not go on Sunday.

One day he found the same friend throwing stones at the cat. James at
once stopped him, and spoke so earnestly against cruelty to animals
that the youth begged, pardon for his thoughtless conduct, and said
that he should ever afterwards befriend cats. In the school there was
a fatherless boy like himself, who had no older brother to stand up for
him. When James saw the bigger boys teasing the little fellow, he took
the boy's part, and compelled his tormentors to leave him in peace.

The seasons followed each other in rapid succession, and with each came
the tasks which gave James the employment he so much enjoyed. The
farm, the carpenter's shop, and the school kept him busy, and at
fifteen he could do a day's work with any