blic highway,
remote from the town. It was constructed of logs,--not of the logs
that have lost their roughness by going through the saw-mill, but logs
cut by the axe of the hardy frontiersman. The axe was the only tool
needed to fit the timber for the building. The building was about
twelve feet in height, and about sixteen by twenty. The cracks were
often left open, and sometimes closed by chips and mud. The floor was
made of split logs with the flat side up. At one end of the building
was a fireplace and chimney occupying the whole end of the house. At
each end of the fireplace were laid two large stones upon which to
rest the ends of the logs of wood, under all of which were laid
closely large pieces of flat stones covered with an inch or two of
mud. At the other end of the building was a door. It was constructed
of thinly split pieces of logs held together by pieces of hickory
withes which crossed each end of the door. This door was hung upon
wooden hinges, one part of which, instead of being fastened to the
door by screws, was fastened by little wooden pegs. The step at the
door was a short piece of log flattened a little on the top and braced
on the under side by small stones and pieces of chips. The roof was
made of long pieces of split timber, the flat side out and the edges
smoothed by the axe in order to make them lie snugly.

Such was the school-house in which D. W. Anderson was educated. And it
may be that the plain school in which he was educated loaned him that
modesty, plainness, and unostentatious air, which were among the many
remarkable traits in his character. The circumstances and society by
which boys are surrounded help to mould their character and determine
their future. To a healthy and vigorous body was coupled a clear and
active mind. He loved knowledge, and was willing to buy it at any
price--willing to make any sacrifice. He was an industrious student,
and possessed great power of penetration and acquisition. And every
thing he read he remembered. The greatest difficulty with students is
that they fail to apply themselves. A man may have the ability to
accomplish a given amount of work and yet that work can never be
accomplished except by the severest effort. It is one thing to possess
a negative power, but it is quite another thing to possess a positive
power. In this world we are set over against all external laws and
forces. We are to assume the offensive. We are to climb up to the
stars