days.

Garfield, when once his eyes were opened, was quick enough to see that
no boy could possibly succeed in life while he remained in ignorance.
He said over and over again, "Mother, I must have an education"; and,
having made up his mind to this, he set himself to secure it in the
only possible way.

No false pride hindered him, no difficulties drove him back. He knew
that he would have to begin at the bottom, and he knew also that he
would have to work his way, every inch of the long journey.

One of his own wise sayings was this: "Poverty is uncomfortable, as I
can testify; but, nine times out of ten, the best thing that can happen
to a young man is to be tossed overboard, and compelled to sink or swim
for himself. In all my acquaintance, I never knew a man to be drowned
who was worth saving." No man illustrated his own words better than
James Garfield.

"Labour is glory!--the flying cloud lightens;
Only the waving wing changes and brightens;
Idle hearts only the dark future frightens;
Play the sweet keys, wouldst thou keep them in tune."

CHAPTER XII.

TEACHING AND LEARNING.

First Term at College--The Pleasure of real Success--James Garfield
meets his Wife--He applies for a Schoolmastership--A Generous Offer.

It is sometimes said that education spoils lads for hard work. As a
teacher in after years, Garfield had often to argue this point with the
fathers of his pupils, who feared lest the college should unfit their
boys for the farm and the forest. But better than any argument was his
own example.

His first duty on returning home from school was to build his mother a
new barn. "It spoils some boys to go to school," said his brother
Thomas at the beginning of the first vacation, but it had not spoiled
James Garfield.

With his brother's help, he built the barn, and then set off to find
work among the neighbouring farmers. Haymaking occupied him for
several weeks, then a

[Transcriber's note: pages 81 and 82 missing.]

It was this moral courage which gave Garfield his great influence over
his companions all through life. And when, after his second term at
Geauga; he felt himself able to undertake the charge of one of the
winter schools, which were started for small settlers' children, it was
this quality, above all others, which made him a successful teacher.

He finished his second term at the top of his class. His mental powers
were now thoroughly awakened, his mind w