Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/203

 JAMES ABRAM GARFIELD 165 libraries of that part of the wilderness supplied, and many he learned by heart. Mr. Elaine attri butes the dignity and earnestness of his style to his familiarity with the Bible and its literature, of which he was a constant student. His imagination was especially kindled by the tales of the sea ; a love for adventure took strong possession of him. He so far yielded to it that in 1848 he went to Cleve land and proposed to ship as a sailor on board a lake schooner. But a glance showed him that the life was not the romance he had conceived. He turned promptly from the shore, but, loath to re turn home without adventure and without money, drove some months for a boat on the Ohio canal. Little is known of this experience, except that he secured promotion from the tow-path to the boat, and a story that he was strong enough and brave enough to hold his own against his companions, who were naturally a rough set. During the winter of 1849- 50 he attended the Geauga seminary at Chester, Ohio, about ten miles from his home. In the vacations he learned and practised the trade of a carpenter, helped at har vest, taught, did anything and everything to get money to pay for his schooling. After the first term, he asked and needed no aid from home; he had reached the point where he could support him self. At Chester he met Miss Lucretia Rudolph, his future wife. Attracted at first by her interest