were led by Generals who were the most distinguished men, like General Washington. The Generals wore coats that shone with gold lace, and epaulets, or ornaments, on their shoulders, and hats like the one General Washington wears in the almanack picture, made showy with gold lace and a feather. Generals carried swords instead of guns; and they rode horseback, and led the soldiers into battle. I hope we shall never want any more Generals in this country, for it is terrible to shoot down men as they do in war. But by study and learning you can make a man equal to a General, and be as honoured, without killing your fellow-men.

“When the Revolutionary War was over, your great-grandfather removed into the State of New York, where he had a son, whom he named Thomas. Thomas grew up to be a man, and was married, and had a son, whom he named Abram; and this Abram was your father. Now, it will be easy for you to remember that Solomon Garfield was your great-grandfather, a soldier of the American Revolution; that Thomas Garfield, a pioneer of New York State, was your grandfather, and Abram, his son, a pioneer of Ohio, was your father. There was no General among all your ancestors, though some of them were equal to Generals. If you should ever become a General, you will be what no one of your ancestors ever was, as far back as we can trace them— two hundred and fifty years.”

James listened to this recital with wonder. He scarcely knew before that he was connected with the world outside of the Ohio wilderness. Now he clearly understood that his relations acted a conspicuous part in settling this country, and were people of much consequence. It was a new and inspiring thought to him. His cabin home was invested with new interest and more importance. How far his life was influenced by this revelation of the past, we cannot say, but there is no doubt that his active brain was stirred to nobler thought, and his young heart stamped by indelible impressions.

James believed in his teacher, and his teacher believed in him. There was mutual attraction from the outset. The teacher saw that the backwoods boy was a great man in embryo. He was glad to have such a scholar under his tuition. He was somewhat taken aback, however, by subsequent occurrences. The second day of school he established the following rule:—

“Scholars cannot study their lessons and look about the schoolroom: therefore gazing about is strictly for bidden.”

It was a novel rule to the pupils. It savoured of more strictness than they had been accustomed to. It was a very difficult rule for James to observe. He acquired much information by his close observation. His two eyes and two ears were more than books to him. Besides, he had never undertaken to perform the feat of sitting bolt upright upon a log bench without a back, and looking down upon his book with steady gaze. It was a severe ordeal for a boy who never sat still in his life, and who evidently was not constructed upon the principle of sitting still. However, his heart accepted the rule, and he meant to do the best that he could with it. If he were to make a General, or something else as good, he must do as the “master” told him to do. As much as that was clear to him. But the first thing he knew his eyes were off his book, and on the class reciting.

“James!” said the teacher pleasantly, “have you forgotten the rule so quick?”

“I forgot,” was James’s laconic reply; and down dashed his eyes upon his book. Not long, however. A taking answer to a question in the class on the floor brought up his eyes again as if by magic.

“What! so soon forgetting the rule again, James?” exclaimed the teacher. “You have a very short memory.”

James looked down upon his book abashed, but he made no reply. The fact was, he meant to mind the rule, and do his best to please his teacher. But it was never intended that two such eyes and two such ears as James possessed should come under a rule like that. The teacher was unwittingly at fault here. He did not quite understand his pupil; and so he insisted upon the observance of the rule, and for two weeks continued to correct James, hoping that he would finally bring his eyes and ears into complete subjection. But his effort was fruitless. James was incorrigible, when he meant to be obedient, and he