Page:Lives of the presidents in words of one syllable (1903).djvu/125

 much thrift, and had made large sums in his own state. He thought it well to see these new lands where he might make more, so he set off on horse back, made a long trip, saw much to please him, and at last paid a large sum for a large tract in O-hi-o.

To this place his wife and two babes, and the wife's broth-er, Sar-dis Bir-chard, went in 1817. A fine brick house was built at the new place in 1822. That same year a son, Ruth-er-ford Bir-chard, was born. The fa-ther died then, and left his dear ones, by the aid of funds and lands, to go on in ease.

The child, Rud-dy, was a bright, good boy. His moth-er taught him to read and spell. At five he went to school and did well with books, though he had great love for all the world out of doors. He had, from the start, a host of boy friends who would call for him to join them in all the sports they knew.

Greek and Lat-in were soon the boy's work and at the age of e-lev-en he was in Ken-yon Col-lege. He won first prizes and held high rank. When his four years course was at an end he took up law at Co-lum-bus, O-hi-o. The next year he went to the Law School of Har-vard U-ni-ver-si-ty. In 1845 he was at the bar and in the courts of O-hi-o. In 1850 he was at work at law in Cin-cin-na-ti. In 1852 he wed a bright, sweet young girl, child of Dr. James Webb. All had pride in Lu-cy Hayes, and she did much good in her life.

Hayes gave his vote for A-bra-ham Lin-coln. When the war broke out he was made Ma-jor of the 23rd O-hi-o, and set out for West Vir-gin-i-a. In the fall of the year 1861 he rose to the rank of lieu-ten-ant co-lon-el. The