classical studies, preparatory to his college course, he taught the
English branches. He was a most entertaining teacher--ready with
illustrations, and possessing in a marked degree the power of exciting
the interest of the scholars, and afterward making clear to them the
lessons. In the arithmetic class there were ninety pupils, and I can not
remember a time when there was any flagging in the interest. There were
never any cases of unruly conduct, or a disposition to shirk. With
scholars who were slow of comprehension, or to whom recitations were a
burden, on account of their modest or retiring dispositions, he was
specially attentive, and by encouraging words and gentle assistance
would manage to put all at their ease, and awaken in them a confidence
in themselves. He was not much given to amusements or the sports of the
playground. He was too industrious, and too anxious to make the utmost
of his opportunities to study.
"He was a constant attendant at the regular meetings for prayer, and
his vigorous exhortations and apt remarks upon the Bible lessons were
impressive and interesting. There was a cordiality in his disposition
which won quickly the favor and esteem of others. He had a happy habit
of shaking hands, and would give a hearty grip which betokened a
kind-hearted feeling for all. He was always ready to turn his mind and
hands in any direction whereby he might add to his meagre store of
money.
"One of his gifts was that of mezzotint drawing, and he gave instruction
Book 36 Zephaniah
001:001 The word of Yahweh which came to Zephaniah, the son of Cushi,
the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah,
in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah.
001:002 I will utterly sweep away everything off of the surface
of the earth, says Yahweh.
001:003 I will sweep away man and animal. I will sweep away the birds
of the sky, the fish of the sea, and the heaps of rubble
with the wicked. I will cut off man from the surface
of the earth, says Yahweh.
001:004 I will stretch out my hand against Judah, and against all
the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off the remnant of Baal
from this place: the name of the idolatrous and pagan priests,
001:005 those who worship the army of the sky on the housetops,
those who worship and swear by Yahweh and also swear by Malcam,
001:006 those who have turned back from following Yahweh, and those
who haven't sought Yahweh nor inquired after him.
001:007 Be silent at the presence of the Lord Yahweh, for the day
of Yahweh is at hand. For Yahweh has prepared a sacrifice.
He has consecrated his guests.
001:008 It will happen in the day of Yahweh's sacrifice, that I will
in this branch. I was one of his pupils in this, and have now the
picture of a cross upon which he did some shading and put on the
finishing touches. Upon the margin is written, in the name of the noted
teacher, his own name and his pupil's. There are also two other
drawings, one of a large European bird on the bough of a tree, and the
other a church yard scene in winter, done by him at that time. In those
days the faculty and pupils were wont to call him 'the second Webster,'
and the remark was common, 'He will fill the White House yet.' In the
Lyceum he early took rank far above the others as a speaker and debater.
"During the month of June the entire school went in carriages to their
annual grove meeting at Randolph, some twenty-five miles away. On this
trip he was the life of the party, occasionally bursting out in an
eloquent strain at the sight of a bird or a trailing vine, or a
venerable giant of the forest. He would repeat poetry by the hour,
having a very retentive memory.
"At the Institute the members were like a band of brothers and sisters,
all struggling to advance in knowledge. Then all dressed plainly, and
there was no attempt or pretence at dressing fashionably or stylishly.
Hiram was a little country place, with no fascinations or worldly
attractions to draw off the minds of the students from their work."
Such is an inside view--more graphic than any description I can give--of
the life of James Garfield at Hiram Institute.