From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

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Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 32 "What do you call it, George, and what do you ever expect to do with it?" inquired a school-mate. "You can call it what you please," replied George. "I expect that it will be of great service to me when I become a man." "That is looking a long way ahead, it seems to me," rejoined his companion. "I prefer to know what will be of service to me now. You can scarcely tell what will be best for you when you become a man." "I know that what I am copying into that book will be of use to me in manhood, because men use these forms. I call it a 'Book of Forms' for the want of a better name." And George's words denoted entire confidence in his original idea of the use of forms. "Well, the book looks well anyway," continued his school-mate holding the copy-book up to view. "As to that, I should like to see any work of yours that does not look well. But what are these forms, anyhow?" "They are receipts, bills of exchange, notes of hand, deeds, wills, land-warrants, bonds and useful forms of that kind," answered George. "If I have them here in this book together, they will be convenient for use ten or twenty years hence." "Yes, I see; you can run a lawyer's office on that book," suggested his friend. "A farmer's office, you mean. A farmer may find use for every form there is in that book; and if he does not, it will be no disadvantage to him to understand them." "You are right, George, as you are usually. I shall know where to go for a form when I want to make my will," remarked his companion in a complimentary way. "And I shall be glad to serve you without charge provided you remember me," responded George. "I predict that many men will live who will be glad to consult this book to help them out of difficulties." Perhaps the forethought and sagacity of George were foreshadowed more clearly by this copy-book than by any other. Its reference to the necessities of manhood was so plain and direct as to prove that he kept preparation for that period of life constantly in view. This book has been carefully preserved, and may be seen to-day at Mount Vernon. Another manuscript volume of his which has been preserved is a book of arithmetical problems. It was customary, when George attended school, to write the solution of problems in arithmetic in a blank-book--not the result merely, but the whole process of solution. Sometimes the rules were copied, also, into the book. It was a very good practice for a studious, persevering, conscientious boy like George; but the method was a wretched one for certain indolent pupils to whom study was penance; for this class often relied upon these manuscript volumes to furnish problems solved, instead of resorting to hard study. They were passed around among the idle scholars clandestinely, to help them over hard places without study. Mr. Williams forbade the deceitful practice, and punished pupils who were discovered in the cheat; nevertheless, poor scholars continued to risk punishment rather than buckle down to persistent study. There is no doubt that George's book of problems, copied in his clear, round hand, did considerable secret service in this way. But the preparation of it was an excellent discipline for George. Neatness, application, perseverance, thoroughness, with several other qualities, were indispensable in the preparation of so fair a book. In another copy-book George displayed a talent for sketching and drawing, which elicited Mr. Williams' commendation. "That portrait is well executed," he said. "You have a talent in that direction, evidently; the likeness is good."
Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 33 It was the face of one of the scholars, drawn with his pen. "Have you practised much in this art?" continued Mr. Williams. "No, sir; only a little, for amusement." "Just to see what you could do?" added Mr. Williams, inquiringly. "Yes, that is all." "Well, I advise you to cultivate your talent for drawing. These animals are well done, too. Practise will give you an ability in this line, which may prove of real service to you in future years." George had drawn animals, also, in the book, and he had given wings to some birds with a flourish of his pen, showing both taste and tact in the use of the pen. George was not a boy who believed in flourishes, except those executed in ink. His interest in the art of penmanship drew his attention to these as ornamental and ingenious. "A facile use of the pen will always be serviceable to you," he said to George. "No one can become too skilful in wielding it. But it requires much careful practise." "I have discovered that," answered George. "I do not expect to excel in the art of penmanship." "You may, with your application and perseverance," responded his teacher. "'Perseverance conquers all things,' it is said, and I believe it." "But I have not time for everything," remarked George. "Odd moments are all the time I can devote to such things." "And odd moments have done much for some boys," added his teacher. "Fragments of time well improved have made some men illustrious." "It will take larger fragments of time than I have to make me illustrious," suggested George, dryly. "Perhaps not; you are not authorized to come to such a conclusion. There are too many facts known to warrant it. Your industry and resolution are equal to it." George accepted the compliment in silence with his usual modesty, considerably encouraged by his teacher's words to persevere in doing things well. This copy-book, containing sketches of his companions and pen-pictures of birds and beasts, has been carefully preserved with others. It is a valuable relic, too, as showing that George was not always the sedate, serious boy he has generally been represented to be; for some of these sketches border upon the comical, and evidently were intended to bring a smile over the faces of his school-mates. Mixed with his usually grave and practical way of doing things, they show more of the cheerful, roguish boy than is accorded to George by writers in general. Another copy-book contains many extracts, in prose and poetry, which particularly interested George at the time. He was in the habit of preserving in this way choice bits of prose and poetry for future use. They were copied in his clear, fair handwriting, with every i dotted and every t crossed, and every comma and period nicely made and placed.
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