Part 7 (1/2)
The last chapter closes with Mrs. Garfield's advice to James to give up his plan of going to sea, and to commence and carry forward a course of education which should qualify him for a college professor, or a professional career. Her words made some impression upon his mind, but it is not always easy to displace cherished dreams. While she was talking, a knock was heard at the door and Mrs. Garfield, leaving her place at her son's bedside, rose and opened it.
”I am glad to see you, Mr. Bates,” she said with a welcoming smile.
Samuel D. Bates was the teacher of the school near by, an earnest young man, of exemplary habits, who was looking to the ministry as his chosen vocation.
”And how is James to-day?” asked the teacher, glancing toward the bed.
”So well that he is already beginning to make plans for the future,”
answered his mother.
”What are your plans, James?” asked the young man.
”I should like best to go to sea,” said James, ”but mother doesn't approve of it.”
”She is wise,” said Bates, promptly. ”You would find it a great disappointment.”
”But, it must be delightful to skim over the waters, and visit countries far away,” said the boy, his cheeks flus.h.i.+ng, and his eyes glowing with enthusiasm.
”You think so now; but remember, you would be a poor, ignorant sailor, and would have to stay by the s.h.i.+p instead of exploring the wonderful cities at which the s.h.i.+p touched. Of course, you would have an occasional run on sh.o.r.e, but you could not shake off the degrading a.s.sociations with which your life on s.h.i.+pboard would surround you.”
”Why should a sailor's life be degrading?” asked James.
”It need not be necessarily, but as a matter of fact most sailors have low aims and are addicted to bad habits. Better wait till you can go to sea as a pa.s.senger, and enjoy to the full the benefits of foreign travel.”
”There is something in that,” said James, thoughtfully. ”If I could only be sure of going some day.”
”Wouldn't it be pleasant to go as a man of culture, as a college professor, as a minister, or as a lawyer, able to meet on equal terms foreign scholars and gentlemen?”
This was a new way of putting it, and produced a favorable impression on the boy's mind. Still, the boy had doubts, and expressed them freely.
”That sounds well,” he said; ”but how am I to know that I have brain enough to make a college professor, or a minister, or a lawyer?”
”I don't think there is much doubt on that point,” said Bates, noting the bright, expressive face, and luminous eyes of the sick boy. ”I should be willing to guarantee your capacity. Don't you think yourself fit for anything better than a common sailor?”
”Yes,” answered James. ”I think I could make a good carpenter, for I know something about that trade already, and I daresay I could make a good trader if I could find an opening to learn the business; but it takes a superior man to succeed in the positions you mention.”
”There are plenty of men with only average ability who get along very creditably; but I advise you, if you make up your mind to enter the lists, to try for a high place.”
The boy's eyes sparkled with new ambition. It was a favorite idea with him afterward, that every man ought to feel an honorable ambition to succeed as well as possible in his chosen path.
”One thing more,” added Bates. ”I don't think you have any right to become a sailor.”
”No right? Oh, you mean because mother objects.”
”That, certainly, ought to weigh with you as a good son; but I referred to something else.”
”What then?”
”Do you remember the parable of the talents?”
James had been brought up by his mother, who was a devoted religious woman, to read the Bible, and he answered in the affirmative.