ing-point in
his life. His mother knew that, having once said, "I will go to
school," he would keep his word, and from that time she was satisfied.

CHAPTER XI.

STRIKING OUT A NEW LINE.

James decides to attend a College--He obtains Employment whereby to pay
his Fees--Looking Upward.

In the life of every strong youth there comes a time when the manhood
within him awakens to a consciousness of its proper powers. Such a
moment had come in the life of young Garfield. His best friends had
striven hard to awaken his slumbering ambition; even the companions of
the towpath and of the woodyard had spoken with regret of the apparent
waste of such abilities as he had shown; while his mother, who had been
the first to perceive his talents, never ceased to urge her boy to fit
himself for an honourable and useful calling.

All this advice, however, seemed to be thrown away on the strong-willed
youth, until that moment when the Spirit of God laid hold of him.
Then, as if a lamp had been lit in the empty house, his whole nature
was transfigured. He was still the same sturdy, happy, self-reliant
lad; but he was also a youth with a purpose in life. He no longer
allowed passing fancies to rule his conduct, but, fixing his eye upon
one goal, he began splendidly to push his way towards the prize upon
which he had set his heart.

With a natural shrewdness, he saw at once that a man without culture
and mental training could not climb high on the ladder of life. He saw
that knowledge was the one key which opened the door to power in
America, and with characteristic energy he set himself to seek that key.

The story of Garfield's attempts to gain an education forms one of the
most romantic portions of his history. At first the height of his
ambition was to attend a little Western college called Geauga Seminary,
a school where about a hundred youths and maidens were gathered, under
the auspices of the Free-will Baptist denomination, at the town of
Chester in the State of Ohio.

Garfield, accompanied by two cousins, arrived at Geauga Seminary on
March 5, 1849. It was perhaps the most important moment of his life,
when the big, awkward, ill-dressed boy crossed the threshold of that
humble college, and began to tread the path that was to lead straight
on to one of the highest places of dignity on earth.

He and his companions hired a room, and with but a little in money, a
sack or two of provisions, some pots and pans,