Page:Lives of the presidents in words of one syllable (1903).djvu/136

 The fa-ther soon fell ill and died. Young Gro-ver felt then that he must set forth and earn bread for his dear ones. He found work in the "Home for the Blind," in New York Cit-y. While there he made up his mind to learn law, and went to one of his kin in Buf-fa-lo who found him a place where he could do this. At the same time he gave his help on a book at which his uncle, Lew-is F. Al-len, was at work. This was the "A-mer-i-can Herd Book," and the $60. which came to him as pay he sent to his moth-er. Soon he got a place with a law firm and read "Black-stone."

In 1859 Gro-ver Cleve-land was at the bar, though he staid three years more with the same firm and had sums from his work there with which he could help his kin. Two of his broth-ers went to the war and it was Gro-ver's wish to help bear arms for the good of his land, but he was the sole son from whom aid could come and he felt that it would not be right to leave those who had need of him. Still he did what he could and found one who would loan him funds by which he could send a man to do what he would like to have done. It was years ere he could pay back the loan, but he did it, at last.

As time went on Cleve-land came to be known as a man who knew the law well. He had charge of more than one great case, and won fame.

In 1881 he had a high post in Buf-fa-lo. Men of all sides gave him their vote. In 1883 he had one more high post, that of head of his state. His means were still small, and he kept to his plain ways and did not run in debt. He did hard work at all times for the good of the poor as well as for the rich. There were times when he would sit