New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-20

noon the hay down and tho boys earned dollar
apiece. Then the farmer engaged them for fortnight
James's first wages earned from merchant who
ad ashery where he leached ashes and made black
salts. which were shipped by lake and canal to New
York He got 50 month and his board, and stuck to
the business for two months at the end of which his
hair below his cap bleached and colored by the
fumes until it assumed lively red hue Afterward he
went to Newburg where uncle lived who had piece
OF oak-timbered land to clear on the edge of hide
pendence township James agreed to chop 100 cords of
wood at so cents cord He boarded with of his
sisters, who was married and lived near by Tie a
good chopper and easily cut two cords a day.
The view OF Lake Erie and the passing sails stirred
aresh in him the ambition TO be sailor which almost
every sturdy farmers boy feels who reads tales OF sea
lights and adventures in the quiet monotony of his in
and honey He resolved to ship of the lake craft
and with this purpose he walked to Cleveland and
boarded schooner lying at the wharf and told the cap
tain lac wanted to hire q sailor The captain,
brutal drunken fellow amazed at the impudence of
tho green country lad. and answered him with torrent
OF profanity Escaping quickly he could from tho
vessel, the lad walked the river along the docks
Soon he heard himself called by the deck of
canalOoat, and turning around, recognized cousin
Amos Letcher, who told him he commanded the craft,
and proposed to engage him to drive horses the
path The would-be sailor thought that here was a
chance to learn something of navigation in humble
way, preparatory to renewing his application for
service the lakes. lie accepted the offer and the
wages or ten dollars month and found" and next day
WV pV"O IijtSDurg WIN cargo OF copper
ore 1t mas called the Evening STAR was
open am1dships and had cabin at the bow
ior the horses and one at the stern for the men.
ON the return trip the Eveaing Star stopped
Hill on the Mahoning River, and loaded with coal at the
mines or David Tod, aftcrward Governor of Ohio and
warm friend of Garfield, the Maior-Gencral and
member of Congress The boating episode Garfelds
life lasted through the 1s4S After the first
trip to Pttsburg the boat went back and between
Cleveland and Brer Hill with cargoes of coal an iron
wi no had ris To tha
post of seersman, seized with violent attack of
ague which kept him ct home all winter and in bed most
Of the times A his summers earnings went for
bills and medicines When he recovered his mother who
bad never approved OF his adventure dissuaded
aim from carrying out his project of shipping on the
lakes To master passion she stimulated auoher-
shat OF study She brought her help district school
teacher excellent thoughtful named Samuel d.
Bates, who fred the boys mind with desire for good
education, and doubtless changed the life
lie went TO the Geauga Academy at Chester, q village
rev miles distant, and began career.
lie repnlsed all efforts to persuade him TO Join the
church. and when pressed hard stayed way meet
lngs for several Sundays. Apparently he wanted full
freedom to reach conclusions abo religion by his own
mental processes. 1t not until he was eighteen and
mad been two terms at the Chester school Joined
ms uncles congregation Ho baptized In March
$780, in little stream putting into the Chagrn River
his conversion was accomplished by quiet sweet
tempered man who held series OF meetings in the
schoohousc near the Garfield homestead and told in the
paines and most straightforward manner the story OF
the Gospel previous perusal OF Poilocks Course OF
Time had made deep impression upon him and turned
his thoughts to religious subjects