“There’s a better chance to get an education in some other places, I admit; and I hope you will enjoy it some day,” continued Mrs. Garfield.

James knew much about the world now. All that Morse’s Geography could teach him about his own and other countries he knew thoroughly. He had picked up much information, too, about New England and the State of New York; and he understood very well that the opportunities for a boy to earn money, study, and to rise in the world, were greater in many other parts of the country. It was easy to discover the aspirations of a noble spirit in the boy. He was beginning to feel cramped and confined on the little farm. His soul was outgrowing its sphere of childhood, and was waiting to plume its wings for higher flights. The young eagle was getting ready to leave the nest, and soar.

His mother did not look with favour upon the boy’s suggestions. James must be content to live upon the farm for a while. Providence would open the way out into the broad world at the right time. “Wait for Providence.”

So James suppressed ambitious desires, and contented himself to remain at home, running the farm, working out by the day for the farmers, as opportunity offered, as well as working at barn-building. Before he was fifteen years old, Mr. Treat gave him an opportunity to work on three more barns and one shed, so that he did learn how to frame a barn, and was really a better carpenter at fifteen years of age than some of the carpenters in that region who claimed to have learned the trade. Being able to turn his hand to any kind of labour, he found a plenty to do, leaving him but limited time for play.

James was as fond of sports as any other boy; and his genial nature, ready wit, and gentlemanly bearing united to make him popular with pleasure-seekers. Without him they had dull times. His presence added a charm to the social circle.

As already intimated, he had grown into a large, strong boy; as Mr. Treat sometimes said, “as strong as an ox.” He could lift as much as the strongest man in the vicinity, although he was not agile. He was too large and heavy to be an expert at jumping or running; but his practical wisdom was as manifest in sports as it was in works. He was such after he had passed his fourteenth birthday—more advanced and efficient than most youths of that day at eighteen.

We shall close this chapter with a single incident, that occurred in the winter after James’s fourteenth birthday.

“Jim, will you go to Cleveland with me to-morrow?” inquired Edwin Mapes of James, as he called at Mrs. Garfield’s in the evening. “I’m goin’ for father to-morrow.”

“I don’t know; perhaps I will,” replied James, in a hesitating manner, as if it were doubtful.

“Don’t know? Who does know if you don’t? Come, go; I want company,” pleaded Edwin.

“You’ll have a cold ride,” suggested James.

“Not very cold if you go,” responded Edwin. “You and I can keep warm anywhere in Ohio. Say yes, and I’ll be off.”

“Be off! what’s your hurry? Sit down, and I will tell you in the course of half an hour,” responded James, teasingly.

Edwin took a seat, whereupon James added:

“Yes, I’ll go, and be glad to; start as early as you please.”

“I shan’t start very early; no particular need of it. Goin’ over and back without stopping long,” added Edwin.