Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/49

Rh hard times had come upon the country, wages went down, and many were thrown out of employment entirely. The McKinley family suffered with the rest, and Mr. McKinley, with his large family, had often all he could do to make both ends meet, even though he still kept his position as the manager of the iron works.

"I think it is about time that I earned something," said William McKinley, one day. "Father, Annie, and the others are working, and I feel that I ought to work, too."

"But where will you get an opening?" asked Mrs. McKinley. "You know how hard times are."

"They tell me they want a teacher over at the Kerr district school. Perhaps I can get that position."

"They don't pay very much over there, do they?"

"They pay twenty-five dollars per month and board the teacher around, mother. It's not much, but it's better than nothing."

Having thus spoken, William McKinley at once set about obtaining the position he