HOUSE-BUILDING.
"James must be a Scholar"--Thomas returns Home and builds a New
House--A Lesson in Carpentering--The Volume of Robinson Crusoe--James
eager to Travel.
Mrs. Garfield was glad to see James so contented with his work on the
farm, but she was not satisfied to think that his life should be spent
in cultivating the soil. One day she spoke to him about this, and said
that she wished him to become a scholar. He replied that he also had
the same desire--in fact, that he should like nothing better--but he
did not see how he could obtain the education.
It was this view of the case that troubled his mother. She could not
see any way out of the difficulty, and therefore she had once more to
leave her case in the hands of God. He had made a way for them in
times past, when human eyes could see no path, and she believed that He
would again render the necessary assistance.
It was a happy day in the Garfields' cabin when Thomas returned. James
was the first to see him, and with a loud cry of joy he ran off to meet
and welcome his brother. Their mother heard that cry, and from her
cabin door she saw her two sons approaching hand in hand. They were
both speaking at once, and the burden of their conversation was
expressed in the first words Thomas spoke to his mother.
"We are going to have a frame house now," he cried.
A moment later they were all inside the cabin together--mother, sons,
and daughters, and in the mother's lap lay a handful of gold, which
Thomas had placed there. James danced with excitement as he saw the
sparkling coins which his brother had earned. Never before had he seen
a gold coin, and he had hardly imagined that such a sum could be within
the reach of the humble workman.
Mrs. Garfield looked at the little pile on her knee, and then at her
son, but she did not utter a single word.
"Why don't you say something?" cried James in his excitement.
Why? Because she was unable to do so. There are feelings too deep for
words, and times when we cannot give expression to the intense joys or
bitter sorrows that thrill or rend our hearts.
The bitter sorrow she had experienced when her husband was struck down
in his early manhood; the intense joy now possessed her soul when she
saw this golden token of her eldest son's love and devotion. The gold
that was needed to provide a better house for her lay there, and no one
knew its value better than she did. But what were the golden coins to
the mother, compared with the pure, unselfish, loving spirit of her
son? She would not have exchanged that precious filial affection for
all the gold that was coined in royal mint.
Relief came when at length the mother's tears fell on the shining
coins. Tears indeed! but tears of joy. Never was there a happier
woman in the world than was Widow Garfield at that moment.
No time was lost in carrying out the work, for Thomas was eager to get
back again to earn more money while there was plenty of employment.
When he had arranged with Mr. Treat, the village carpenter, he made a
journey to Cleveland with James to obtain lime, nails, and windows.
A few days after, the carpenter came, and, assisted by Thomas and
James, he set about his task. James had never seen a frame house
built, and he was as eager and curious to watch how the work was done
as he had been years before, when the shoemaker sat in the log cabin
and made him his first pair of shoes.
[Illustration: The carpenter set about his task.]
He not only watched every operation, but eagerly lent a hand where he
could. Hammer, chisel, and plane were in turn used as deftly as if he
had served an apprenticeship to the trade. He especially distinguished
himself in planing the boards ready for the carpenter, who declared
that James was equal to a trained workman. He did the work well and
quickly, and was so delighted with his success that he called it "fun."
When the frame was ready, the neighbours came on an appointed day to
help to raise it and put it in position. This was a great day for Mrs.
Garfield, who received the congratulations of her neighbours, and
listened with motherly pride to the words of praise they bestowed upon
the son who had made this provision for his mother. Nailing on the
boards next gave James work thoroughly to his mind. Boys are always
fond of driving nails, and James was no exception to the rule.
The new frame house was a great improvement on the log cabin. It
contained three rooms on the ground floor, and two above, and it was
altogether better finished and more comfortable than the ruder dwelling
had been. The building of the new house had been a most enjoyable time
to James, and it had also been a valuable experience to the observant
lad. He turned it over in his mind for several months, and then he
told his mother that he thought he might be able to earn some money by
working at the carpenter's trade. She said that he had quite enough to
do, but she was willing to let him try.
"Yes, I will try," said James, for he had long ago found out that there
was nothing like trying.
An hour later he was in the carpenter's shop. The man gave him a
hearty welcome. When he heard the object of the lad's mission, he at
once said--
"I shall be glad to give you a job. I like boys who want to help their
mothers. I don't like lazy boys, and I know there is not a lazy bone
in your body."
James agreed to begin on the following day, and the carpenter gave him
a pile of boards to plane. He was to receive a halfpenny for each
board; 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 man in the district.
Studying geography and reading books of travel had, however, one effect
on his mind--they made him eager to see the places about which he had
read. When he spoke to his mother on the subject, she expressed a wish
for him to remain at home until a fitting opportunity came.
"Wait for Providence," she said; and in the meantime James waited.