Mr. Bates continued his calls at the Garfields’, always aiming to draw out James in respect to his religious convictions, and his plans for the future. All these interviews were very profitable to James. His mother saw clearly that in the skilful hands of the teacher he was being moulded, and her heart rejoiced. She was satisfied that he was making progress in religious purpose. He was frank to confess his need of Divine grace and renewing, and to express a purpose to become a Christian. At the last interview which we have space to notice, Mr. Bates brought him to a final decision.

“Look here, young man,” he said; “the difference between a scholar and a sailor is the difference between somebody and nobody.” And he rung the changes on the words SCHOLAR and SAILOR, until the latter appeared almost beneath the notice.

“Go to school with me at Chester on the first week in March,” said Mr. Bates. “Settle that first, that you will go with me to school at that time. That will be the first step, and the most important.”

“I will go,” answered James, unexpectedly at that moment to his mother. He said it with emphasis, indicating that the matter was settled.

“That’s business,” continued Mr. Bates. “I have no concern about the details, as to how you will raise money to pay your way, or whether you will have to relinquish the attempt to acquire an education after you have begun your studies. All these things will come right at the time, and the way will be provided. You have said, ‘I will go,’ and that commits you to the great purpose of your life. It is the turning-point of your career. You have set your face towards ‘Geauga Seminary,’ and I have no idea that you will look back, or hanker for a ship, or do any other unmanly thing. I consider that the turning-point of my life was when I finally decided to be educated for the ministry: and from that moment I have felt it was great decision of my life.”

These words exerted a profound influence upon James, and that influence deepened from year to year, as he grew older. Years afterwards, as we have seen, when addressing an audience of young men, he bore strongly upon this point, and said, “It is a great point gained when a young man makes up his mind to devote several years to the accomplishment of a definite work.”

A mother’s prayers and love and triumphed. Was she not a happy woman?

“I have a little money, and I know where I can get a little more, and that will be enough to start on,” his mother remarked.

“I can find work to do out of school, and on Saturdays, when school don’t keep, and so earn money to pay my way,” responded James.

“Yes, I’ve no doubt of it. You know that Mr. Bates said all these things would come around right when you had decided to go,” remarked Mrs. Garfield.

“I mean to see if William and Henry will not go, too; we can room together,” continued James. These were his two cousins, who lived close by, sons of his uncle, Amos Boynton. They were members of his Spelling Club a few years before, when, together, they mastered Noah Webster’s Spelling Book.

“That will be a good idea, James; and I think they will go,” responded his mother, encouragingly. “There is no reason why they should not go.”

It was only three weeks before the school at Chester would begin. James announced to his cousins that he had resolved to attend Geauga Seminary, and wanted they should go, too. The subject was discussed in the family for a week; Mr. Bates was consulted, and was glad to influence two other boys to take so wise a step; and finally it was settled that William and Henry should go with James.