WILLIAM J. was the son of a very poor man. He was born near sawmills
and shipyards. His home was humble, but piety and industry were seen
there. William made up his mind that he would have an education. His
motto was, "No such word as fail." He did not have the chances that you
have in these good days. No, indeed, to get an education meant to him
hard work, _hard work_! When working in the shipyard he often had a
book open before him, and thus every golden moment was improved. What
do you think he used at night, in the winter, for his lamp? Can you
guess? A _pine knot_! And in summer his lamp was the light of the moon.
Once he rode thirty miles to attend a spelling match.
When sixteen he opened a little school, and the next thing was to study
Latin and Greek. The boy had set his heart on college, and it almost
looks as though a boy can accomplish anything with such a motto as
poor William's. He borrowed some Latin and Greek books, and set hard
to work. Soon his dear parents died, and so the care of a brother
and sister fell upon him. On entering college he found that he had
worked too hard--for his eyes so failed that he had to leave off study
and wear a green shade, but still he would not give up. He got his
room-mate to _read to him_. He not only pushed through college himself,
but helped his brother through also. Amid all these difficulties he
graduated with high honors, became a professor in the same college, and
was ever found in the path of duty and rectitude. Remember William, my
little ones, and resolve on some plan of life, and pursue it with all
your heart and soul.