Part 3 (2/2)
Mr. Jefferson was found in his garden, working among his early vegetables. His face was red from sunburn and he was dressed in a blue coat, gray waistcoat and green knee breeches. He recognized the lad at once, and greeted him pleasantly. He had been measuring the growth of various plants, during stated periods, and with different fertilizers, and was recording these facts in his neat handwriting, such as four years later was to appear on the famous Declaration of Independence.
”That's a fine colt you have there,” he exclaimed with enthusiasm, as he noted the horse Rodney had ridden, and which was being held by a small black boy.
”Nat is a fine animal, sir.”
”And well groomed.”
”I care for him myself. He belongs to me, for father gave him to me when he was a little fellow. He has learned several tricks. Nat, do you want to go home?”
Nat pawed the ground twice and whinnied vigorously.
”That's his way of saying yes, isn't it, Nat, boy?”
The colt's answer was to thrust his velvety muzzle caressingly against the lad's cheek, blinking his large purplish eyes the while.
He was truly a fine animal with breeding in every line, dark bay in colour, with a black stripe running from mane to tail.
Seeing an opportunity, Rodney said: ”Mr. Jefferson, may I ask your advice?”
”Certainly you may.”
”I--I'm afraid father made a mistake when he bought our place of old--er Mr. Denham. I've been told two other men bought it and made a failure, having a mortgage on it. I don't know whether father gave Denham a mortgage, but I do know that, while he wants to go out on the Ohio and take up his soldier's claim to land, he doesn't think it wise to leave home, I suppose on account of debts. I feel sure he ought to go. I want to go with him, but if I can do more by staying at home I ought to. Don't you think he should go?”
”Was the boy seeking a loan?” thought Jefferson, but he said: ”I would not like to advise. Your father doubtless knows better than we what is best. There is great eagerness on the part of many people to seek new homes in the great West, but many who go over the mountains will return poorer than they went, and many others will never return at all. That part of the country has a glorious future, and there's much excitement over the prospects. The pioneer spirit is resistless, but, were I your father, I should not wish to take my family. The Indians are troublesome and growing more restless.”
”I would be willing to stay at home if I could earn some money to help along.”
”You ought to be at your studies.”
”I suppose so. I've had a pretty good training in the three Rs and am half way through Caesar. I can study a little in the evenings.”
The boy noticed that the look the man gave him was one of warm good will.
”Indeed, you certainly haven't been idle. Don't give up. Labour and learn, that must every boy or man do to succeed, and if he learns thoroughly he'll see that good character is also essential to the success which endures. I rise at daylight, winter and summer. Yes, my boy, there is something I can get for you to do, though the recompense will not be large. I'm having some land surveyed and you could serve as an a.s.sistant and acquire some practical knowledge besides; that is, if your father will permit it.”
”Thank you, sir. I'm sure he'll be proud to have me in your service.”
”We'll now go to the library and see what we can find, for I'm of the opinion that what the Reverend Mr. St.i.th said about King James won't apply to you.”
”What was that, sir?”
”In his History of Virginia he writes that King James' instructor had given him 'Greek and Latin in great waste and profusion, but it was not in his power to give him good sense.' By that don't think that Greek and Latin are not both excellent. I would advise every boy to study them if possible.”
They were walking toward the house when they met Mrs. Jefferson.
Rodney was introduced, and was received most graciously. He flushed with pleasure, and thought how gratified his father would be at the kind manner with which he was received.
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