CONTENTS.I.--THE FIRST PAIR OF SHOESII.--GROWING IN WISDOM AND STATUREIII.--IN QUEST OF FORTUNEIV.--ON THE TOW-PATHV.--AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONVI.--JAMES LEAVES THE CANALVII.--THE CHOICE OF A VOCATIONVIII.--GEAUGA SEMINARYIX.--WAYS AND MEANSX.--A CO... Read more

CONTENTS.I.--THE FIRST PAIR OF SHOESII.--GROWING IN WISDOM AND STATUREIII.--IN QUEST OF FORTUNEIV.--ON THE TOW-PATHV.--AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONVI.--JAMES LEAVES THE CANALVII.--THE CHOICE OF A VOCATIONVIII.--GEAUGA SEMINARYIX.--WAYS AND MEANSX.--A COUSIN'S REMINISCENCESXI.--LEDGE HILL SCHOOLXII.--WHO SHALL BE MASTER?XIII.--JAMES LEAVES GEAUGA SEMINARYXIV.--AT HIRAM INSTITUTEXV.--THREE BUSY YEARSXVI.--ENTERING WILLIAMS COLLEGEXVII.--LIFE IN COLLEGEXVIII.--THE CANAL-BOY BECOMES A COLLEGE PRESIDENTXIX.--GARFIELD AS A COLLEGE PRESIDENTXX.--GARFIELD BECOMES A STATE SENATORXXI.--A DIFFICULT DUTYXXII.--JOHN JORDAN'S DANGEROUS JOURNEYXXIII.--GARFIELD'S BOLD STRATEGYXXIV.--THE BATTLE OF MIDDLE CREEKXXV.--THE PERILOUS TRIP UP THE BIG SANDYXXVI.--THE CANAL-BOY BECOMES A CONGRESSMANXXVII.--GARFIELD'S COURSE IN CONGRESSXXVIII.--THE MAN FOR THE HOURXXIX.--GARFIELD AS A LAWYERXXX.--THE SCHOLAR IN POLITICSXXXI.--THE TRIBUTES OF FRIENDSXXXII.--FROM CANAL-BOY TO PRESIDENTXXXIII.--THE NEW ADMINISTRATIONXXXIV.--THE TRAGIC ENDXXXV.--MR. DEPEW'S ESTIMATE OF GARFIELDXXXVI.--THE LESSONS OF HIS LIFETHEBOYHOOD AND MANHOODOFJAMES A. GARFIELD.CHAPTER I.THE FIRST PAIR OF SHOES.From a small and rudely-built log-cabin a sturdy boy of four yearsissued, and looked earnestly across the clearing to the pathway that ledthrough the surrounding forest. His bare feet pressed the soft grass,which spread like a carpet before the door.What are you looking for, Jimmy? asked his mother from within thehumble dwelling.I'm looking for Thomas, said Jimmy.It's hardly time for him yet. He won't be through work till aftersunset.Then I wish the sun would set quick, said Jimmy.That is something we can not hasten, my son. God makes the sun to riseand to set in its due season.This idea was probably too advanced for Jimmy's comprehension, for hewas but four years of age, and the youngest of a family of fourchildren. His father had died two years before, leaving a young widow,and four children, the eldest but nine, in sore straits. A long andsevere winter lay before the little family, and they had but little corngarnered to carry them through till the next harvest. But the youngwidow was a brave woman and a devoted mother.God will provide for us, she said, but sometimes it seemed a mysteryhow that provision was to come. More than once, when the corn was low inthe bin, she went to bed without her own supper, that her four children,who were blessed with hearty appetites, might be satisfied. But whentwelve months had gone by, and the new harvest came in, the fields whichshe and her oldest boy had planted yielded enough to place them beyondthe fear of want. God did help them, but it was because they helpedthemselves. Less