way," continued James; "and on a milk diet I can scrimp a little more."

"And if you should conclude not to eat anything. you could live at very small expense," retorted Henry, by way of making fun of his milk diet.

Laugh at it as much as you please," replied James; "meat is not necessary to health, I am satisfied of that. There is more nourishment in good bread and milk than there is in roast-beef."

"Well, I should take the roast-beef if I could get it," interrupted William. "Milk for babes; and I am not a baby."

"Milk for scholars," responded James; "I actually believe that a better scholar can be made of milk than of beef."

* If

ee

you will

say 'bacon' instead of beef, perhaps I shall agree with you," said William, playfully. "I don't think that bacon can produce high scholarship."

"Jim's essay was made out of it chiefly," remarked Henry; "that was scholarly. Bacon has contributed too much to my comfort for me to berate it now."

And so the boys treated with some levity a subject over which James became an enthusiast. He was thoroughly taken with Mr. Wright's mode of living, and thoroughly resolved to adopt it the next term.

The Debating Society, also, interested James very much; it was the first one he had ever become acquainted with. The Principal recommended it highly as a means of self-culture, and James accepted

his recommendation as sound and pertinent. He engaged in debate hesitatingly at first, as if he had grave doubts of his ability in that direction; but he soon learned to value the Society above many of his academical privileges. The trial of his powers in debate disclosed a facility within him that he had not dreamed of. He possessed a ready command of language, could easily express his thoughts upon any question under discussion, and was really eloquent for one so ungainly in personal appearance. He studied each question before the club as he would study a lesson in Algebra, determined to master it. He could usually find books in the library that afforded him essential aid in preparing for debates, so that he appeared before the school always well posted upon the subject in hand. His familiarity with them often evoked remarks of surprise from both scholars and teachers. It was here, probably, that he laid the foundation for that remarkable ability in debate that has distinguished him in Congress during the last fifteen years. He began by preparing himself thoroughly for every discussion, and that practice has continued with him to this day. It has made him one of the most prompt, brilliant, and eloquent disputants in the national legislature.

It was not strange that James won enviable notoriety in the Debating Society of the Geauga Academy. The debates became important and attractive to the whole school because he was a disputant. Scholars hung upon his lips, as now the listening multitude are charmed by his eloquence. Teachers

and pupils began very soon to predict for him a brilliant future as a public speaker. In their surprise and admiration of the young orator they forgot the jean trousers, that were too short for his limbs. by four inches.

Henry Wilson discovered his ability to express his thoughts, before an audience in the village Debating Society of Natick, Mass., in early manhood. Here he subjected himself to a discipline that insured his eminence as a debater in Congress. The celebrated English philanthropist Buxton had no thought of becoming an orator or a statesman, until he learned, in the debating society of the school which he attended, that he possessed an undeveloped ability for the forum. The distinguished English statesman, Canning, declared that he qualified himself for his public career in the school of his youth, where the boys organized and supported a mock parliament, conducting the debates, appointing committees, enforcing rules, and pitting one party against the other, precisely as was done by Parliament. In like manner the hero of this volume really began his distinguished public career in the lyceum of Geauga Seminary.

VACATION of two months in the sum-. mer gave James ample opportunity for manual labor. Thomas was at home, and he decided to build a frame barn for his mother. He could have the assistance of James, who really knew more about barn - building than Thomas did.

"I s'pose you can frame it, Jim," said Thomas. "I suppose that I can, if Algebra and Philosophy have not driven out all I learned of the business."

"You can try your hand at it, then. I should think that Algebra and Philosophy would help rather than hinder barn-building," added Thomas.

"Precious little they have to do with barns, I tell you," responded James. "They are taking studies, though."

"It won't take you long to find out what you can do," continued Thomas; "it spoils some boys to go to school too much."

Thomas had prepared sufficient lumber when he

was at home, at different times, for the barn. It was all ready to be worked into the building; and the brothers proceeded to the task resolutely, James leading off in framing it. No outside help was called in, Thomas and James considering themselves equal to the task.

We need not delay to record the details of the job. It will answer our purpose to add, simply, that the barn was built by the brothers, and thus one more convenience was added for the comfort of their mother. The day of log buildings was now over to the Garfield family. Times had wonderfully changed since Mr. Garfield died, and the population of the township had increased, so that "the wilderness and solitary place" had disappeared.

As soon as the barn was completed, James sought work elsewhere among the farmers. He must earn some money before returning to Chester, for a portion of his doctor's bill remained unpaid, and then, a new suit of clothes, shirts, and other things, would require quite an outlay.

He found a farmer behind time in getting his hay. "Yes, I want you," the farmer said; "and I wish you had been here two weeks ago: it seems as if haying would hold out all summer."

"You are rather behind time, I judge," replied James. "Better late than never, though.".

"I don't know about that, James. I rather have it read, better never late," remarked the sensible

man.

"That is my rule," answered James. "At school