Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/145

Rh lawyer, I'll stand a chance of earning my bread and butter, judge."

At this there was a laugh, which broke the ice, and a long talk followed, the upshot of which was that McKinley became a law student in Judge Glidden's office at Youngstown, and went to studying Blackstone with all the vigor of which he was capable.

In more ways than one this method of settling down to solid work was heroic. His real friends admired him, but there were others who had pretended to think much of him, who now passed him by without notice.

"Oh, he doesn't amount to as much as I thought," said one. "He's only a poor law student, and the chances are he won't earn his salt."

"Guess he'd better drop his title of major," said another. "If he don't, folks will be laughing at him."

So the talk ran on, but William McKinley paid no attention. He was at his task early and late and made rapid progress. The story is told that once Judge Glidden came into the office at midnight and found