James always did like to have people carry their hearts in their hands, as he did; and Dr. Hopkins came so near to it that he put his heart into his pen, when he wrote, and James accepted his hearty hand- shake.

“How is it, James, about funds? You cannot have enough money laid up for your college expenses.” His brother said this to him several weeks before he closed his studies at Hiram, just at the time when James was revolving the subject with some anxiety. True, he had trusted to Providence so much, and Providence had provided for him so unexpectedly at times, and so generously always, that he was disposed to trust for the wherewithal to pay expenses in college. His brother’s question was timely. He always thought that Providence managed the affair.

“No, I have not more than half enough,” James replied; “but I shall teach in the winter, and perhaps I can find some kind of labour to perform in term-time. I always have been able to pay my way.”

“But if you enter two years in advance, I would not advise you to labour in term-time. You will have enough to do.”

“How can I pay my way unless I do work?”

“I will loan you money to meet your expenses.”

“And wait long enough for me to pay it?”

“Yes. When you get through college you can teach, and it will not take you long to pay the debt.”

“Suppose I should die; where will you get your pay?”

“That is my risk.”

“It ought not to be your risk. It is not right that you should lose the money on my account.”

“It is if I consent to it.”

“It occurs to me,” continued James, after a pause, “that I can arrange it in this way. You can loan me the money, and I will get my life insured for five hundred dollars. This will protect you in case of my death.”

“I will agree to that, if it suits you any better.”

“Well, it does. I shall be satisfied with that method; and I shall be relieved of some anxiety. I want to make my two years in college the most profitable of any two years of my course of study.”

James took out an insurance upon his life, and when he carried it to his brother, he remarked:—

“If I live I shall pay you, and if I die you will suffer no loss.”

What James accomplished during the three years he was at Hiram Institute may be briefly stated thus:—

The usual preparatory studies, requiring four years, together with the studies of the first two years in college—the studies of six years in all—he mastered in three years. At the same time he paid his own bills by janitor and carpenter work, and teaching, and, in addition, laid up a small amount for college expenses.