There is no doubt that Abe found plenty to do outside of school. In fact, that did not take up much of his time, for we are told that, adding together all the time he spent in attendance, the aggregate would not exceed a year. As to the sort of work he did, his father found work for him on the land which he had under cultivation. Then the “chores” which boys in such households are always called upon to do, in his case exacted more time on account of the lack of average accommodations. For instance, the water had to be brought from a spring a mile away, and Abe and his sister were employed to fetch it. There was no water to be had nearer, except what was collected in holes in the ground after a rain, and this was necessarily unfit for drinking, or, indeed, any other purpose unless strained. But Abe is not to be pitied for the hardships of his lot. That is the way strong men are made. CHAPTER IV. ABE’S SCHOOLING. “Spell _defied_!” This question was put a class in spelling by the master. The first pupil in the straggling line of backwoods boys and girls who stood up in class, answered with some hesitation: “D-e-f-i-d-e, defied.” The master frowned. “Next!” he called sharply. The next improved upon the effort of the first speller, and in a confident tone answered. “D-e-f-y-d-e.” “Wrong again! The next may try it,” said the teacher. “D-e-f-y-d!” said the third scholar. “Worse and worse! You are entitled to a medal!” said Crawford, sarcastically. “Next!” “D-e-f-y-e-d!” was the next attempt. “Really, you do me great credit,” said the teacher, a frown gathering on his brow. “You can’t spell an easy word of two syllables. It is shameful. I’ll keep the whole class in all the rest of the day, if necessary, till the word is spelled correctly.” It now became the turn of a young girl named Roby, who was a favorite with Abe. She was a pretty girl, but, nevertheless, the terrible word puzzled her. In her perplexity she chanced to turn toward the seat at the window occupied by her long-legged friend, Abe. Abe was perhaps the best speller in school. A word like defied was easy enough to him, and he wanted to help the girl through. As Miss Roby looked at him she saw a smile upon his face, as he significantly touched his _eye_ with his finger. The girl took the hint, and spelled the word correctly. “Right at last!” said Master Crawford, whose back was turned, and who had not seen Abe’s dumb show. “It’s lucky for you all that one of the class knew how to spell, or I would have kept my word, and kept you all in.”