Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...

SCHOOL AND COLLEGE DAYS 155
ennoble the farmer and to make the value of higher education
apparent to him. He urged them all to take scholarships in
the college and to send their sons there.
Our father was himself a good teacher and helped us much
at home; especially was this true in the case of Brother William,
who was a boy of special mental promise. So great was our
father's love of teaching that he had a school for beginners in
our own home, teaching English and Latin grammar. Will
became very much interested in this class. When he was but
seven years old he could read Historia Sacra and translate it
without missing a word. Soon he asked to join the class of
young people who were studying with father, but he was told
that he had not learned the declensions and that this was
necessary before entering the class, whereupon he went dili-
gently to work to prepare himself for entrance. In a very
short time he had completed the task and came to father tell-
ing him he was ready, having learned the lesson. "What is
that.'"' asked father. "Why, the declensions!" He was
then admitted to the class and studied, besides Latm, Kirkham's
English Grammar; he learned all the rules — there were
thirty-six as I remember — besides parsing all the exercises in
the book. He always had great penetration and an excellent
memory. In our family of four children there were no two
of us alike. The fact of the uncommon mental superiority
of the first-born discounted the rest of us to such an extent
that I think we all felt it.
Freeman Gary's visit to the countryside caused quite a
sensation; a number of the well-to-do people took scholarships
at fifty dollars each, for even if they had no children they
could rent the scholarships to others. I recall Brother Wil-
liam's eagerness to start to college. This he was allowed to
do when he was seventeen years old. He bought a new
"Caesar" bound in sheepskin; I can see it yet, and realize
again what a proud day it was for him. Our little brother,
Joseph, thirteen and small for his age, entered the preparatory
school under Professor Waldron. Our common schools
were very poor, and Joseph could not get interested; so this
was really like the beginning of his school life. Father bought