The Story of Garfield: Farm-boy, Soldier, and PresidentRutherford, William G. (William Gunion)
History
The Story of Garfield: Farm-boy, Soldier, and President
Rutherford, William G. (William Gunion)
Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881; Presidents -- United States -- Biography
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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