make himself useful. Nor was this the best part of the discipline. James received a kind of education when the house was building that proved of great advantage to him through life. Before the house was completed, he conceived the idea of making the carpenter’s trade a source of profit. It was on his mind day after day, the last thing he thought of before falling asleep at night, and the first thing when he awoke in the morning. He divulged his purpose to no one, but pondered it for several months in his own heart. The family had removed into the new house, and Thomas had returned to Michigan, and James was manager of the farm-work.

“Mother,” he said one day, when he could not keep his purpose a secret any longer, “I have a plan to earn some money.”

“What is it?”

“To work at the carpenter’s trade.”

“I’m afraid that plan won’t work.”

“Why?”

“You have enough to do on the farm now, and you can’t do both.”

“I only meant to work at it when I had no work on the farm to do—a job now and then.”

“It will be difficult to find such jobs.”

“Perhaps it will, but I can try, and you believe in trying.”

James emphasized the words try and trying, because his mother often made the remark to her children, “There is nothing like trying.”

“Yes, I believe in trying always, and you may try as hard as you please to find a job.”

“I’m going to Mr. Treat; perhaps he may have a job at planing or something of the kind. I want to earn some money for you as well as Thomas. I will go to Michigan when I am old as he is.”

“One son in Michigan is enough, I think. Besides, I hope the day will come when you can be more useful than you can be in chopping wood or planing boards.”

“I don’t know what there is better than such work, to help you.”

“There is somebody else in the world to help besides me,” replied his mother earnestly; “and I don’t want you to feel that you are always to be bound to this little township and farm.”

“I don’t expect to be bound to it always,” retorted James, “but I am bound to get a job at carpenterin’ this very day, if I can; and I am going over to see Mr. Treat.”

Within less than an hour James entered the carpentershop.

“Halloo, Jimmy! that you? How’s your mother?” exclaimed Mr. Treat, in a very jolly way, as he was wont to do.

“She is well.”

“Not much farming to do just now, I suppose?” continued Mr. T. inquiringly.

“No, not very much; and I came over to see you about some work.”