Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/33

Rh "I was fishing, mother," he replied.

"Fishing?" said Mrs. McKinley. "Where is your fish?"

"I didn't catch any to-day. But I located a big fellow and I'll get him tomorrow."

At this his mother smiled. But he was as good as his word, and brought home the fish for supper.

In those days skates were scarce and cost more money than the average family cared to pay out for half a dozen boys and girls. William had to learn to skate on a pair of skates which another boy owned. This man tells that he used to lend Will the skates in return for being "towed around," and adds:—

"William was a good skater. He couldn't do much at fancy figures, but he could beat lots of the boys when it came to a straight out race. He'd swing along like a steam engine, often with a stick in both hands and a tippet flying from around his neck and under his arms."

William McKinley learned his letters at home, from his big brothers and sisters, but when six years of age he was taken