"Is it expensive?" asked Mrs. Garfield. "James has no money except the few dollars his brother and I can spare him." "He will have plenty of company. Most of the students are poor, but there are chances of finding work in the neighborhood, and so earning a little money. James knows something of the carpenter's trade?" "Yes, he helped build the house we live in, and he has been employed on several barns." My readers will remember that the Garfields no longer lived in the humble log-cabin in which we first found them. The money Thomas brought home from Michigan, supplemented by the labor of James and himself, had replaced it by a neat frame house, which was much more comfortable and sightly. "That will do. I think I know a man who will give him employment." "He is a boy of energy. If he gets fairly started at school, I think he will maintain himself there," said Mrs. Garfield. The teacher took his leave. When Mrs. Garfield re-entered the room she found James looking very thoughtful. "Mother," he said, abruptly, "I want to get well as quick as I can. I am sixteen years old, and it is time I decided what to do with myself." "You will think of what Mr. Bates has said, will you not?" "Yes, mother; as soon as I am well enough I will call on Dr. Robinson and ask his candid opinion. I will be guided by what he says." CHAPTER VIII. GEAUGA SEMINARY. I have stated in a previous chapter that James became acquainted with Dr. Robinson while still employed on the canal. This statement was made on the authority of Mr. Philo Chamberlain, of Cleveland, who was part proprietor of the line of canal-boats on which the boy was employed. Edmund Kirke, however, conveys the impression that James was a stranger to the doctor at the time he called upon him after his sickness. Mr. Kirke's information having been derived chiefly from General Garfield himself, I shall adopt his version, as confirmed by Dr. Robinson. When James walked up to the residence of President Hayden, and inquired for Dr. Robinson, he was decidedly homespun in appearance. He probably was dressed in his best, but his best was shabby enough. His trousers were of coarse satinet, and might have fitted him a season or two before, but now were far outgrown, reaching only half-way down from the tops of his cowhide boots. His waistcoat also was much too short, and his coat was threadbare, the sleeves being so short as to display a considerable portion of his arms. Add to these a coarse slouched hat, much the worse for wear, and a heavy mass of yellow hair much too long, and we can easily understand what the good doctor said of him: "He was wonderfully awkward, but had a sort of independent, go-as-you-please manner that impressed me favorably." "Who are you?" asked the doctor. "My name is James Garfield, from Solon." "Oh, I know your mother, and knew you when you were a babe, but you have outgrown my knowledge. I am glad to see you." "I should like to see you alone," said James.