The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1842-07-09

4 don't know. 1t would certainly i'm
prove them very much
%. yes sir. They would look just like
new. And ifyou will let me do them,
will fix them all up nice for you, cheap
will you. indeedl' But what is your
name and where do you live!
My name is James Wallace, and I live
with Mr.. Lee, the blind maker
DO you indeed! Well, how much will
you charge for painting them, and putting
on new hangings!'
i will do il for two dollars, sir. The
hangings and tassels will cost ME three
Iquarlers of dollar. and the pain. and warm
ish quarter more. And it will take me
two or three evening, besides getting up
very early in the morning TO work for. Mr..
Lee, so tina. can paint and varnish them
when the sun Shines
But will Mr. Lee let you do ths?'
Il don't know, sir. But | will ask
him.
Very well. nv little man. If Mr.. Lee
does not object am willing
James ran back to the house, and found
Mr.. Lee standing in the door.-Much to
his delight, his request was granted. -Four
days from that time he pessesed book o
his own and had half dollar with which
TO buy some other volume when nc
should nave thoroughly mastered the con
tents of that. Every night found him por
ing over This book, and SO soon as it va.
light enough in the morning to see, he wal
up. and reading.
OF course. there was much in it that he
cosld.pot understand, and many terms tha
defed all his efforts ahdcomparisons, OF the
context 10 understand, To help him in thi.
diff Guilty. he purchased with his remainin!
half dollar, at secondhand book stall,
dictionary. BY the aid of this he acquire,
the information he sought, much more rap
Idly. But the more he read, the broade
the unexplored expanss of knowledge ap
peared to open before him He did no
however give way 10 feelings of discourage
ment, bu: steadily devoted every evening
and an hour every morning. to study Will
all threugh the day his mind was ponder
: ing over the things he had read, as his ham
u were diligently employed in the labor as
! signed him.
1t occurred just at this time, that a nun
n Of benevolent individuals established, IN tn
tswn where James lived, one Of those ex
: cellent institutions, an Apprentices Library
e Te this he at once applied and obtaine
d he books he needed. Instead, however
h of resorting to the library for mere books Q
S Amusement, he borrowed only those from
which he could obtain the rudiments O
d learning. such as text books of science.
y He early felt the necessity from hav
It ing read a book on Astronomy, with
n strong desire to master its contents, 70
e mathematical knowledge, and in the effol
S 10 acquire this he first commenced studyin
y for he had no preceptor TO guide him
. work on Geometry. in working OF
r problems, he used a pair of shop compasse
d with pointed quill upon one of the prong:
And thus. all alone in his garret, frequentl
d until midnight, none dreaming of his devc
d tion 10 The requirement of knowledge-di
the poor apprentice boy lay the foundatio
|, of future eminence and usefulness. W
Is cannot trace his course, step by sle]
d through long series of seven years, ,houg
h it would afford many lessons of perseve
ance and tridnph over almos. insurmount
= BILE difficulties. But al lwenly-one he W;
% master OF his trade: and; what was NOR
had laid up vast amount of general an
ID scientific Information He was we'll res
in history. Had studied thoroughly II
ID science Of Astronomy, for which he ev,
retained lively affection, Was famili
lie with mathematical principles, and cou
g. readily solve the most difficult Geome!r
cal and Algebraic problems. His Ge,
graphical knowledge was minute; and
I'd this he added tolerably correct niormatc
he in regard 10 the manners and customs