, as a small boy; he
would have his own way, if he could get it; and this was why he was sent
to a high school, when he was not so old by some years, as the rest of
the boys there; he gave his fa-ther no rest till he sent him; and once
there he made up his mind to lead his class.

He was just twelve when his strong will sent him to work in a store near
his home, so that he could help care for the big fam-i-ly in the small
home. The man who hired him, soon saw that, if he was young, he knew how
to work well, and that he could trust him; for two years he worked in
the store and then went back to his books.

But, just at this time, his fa-ther died; and he then had to find a way
to care for those in great need at home. With the same pluck that he had
shown in the past, he now went to work in a "Home for the Blind," in New
York. In this big cit-y, the bright boy saw and heard much which gave
him new thoughts, and put in his heart the wish to make his life a great
one. At the end of two years in the "Home," he made up his mind to learn
law; and he asked a man whom he knew to lend him twen-ty-five dol-lars
to start him. The fact that this man did so shows that he had trust in
young Gro-ver Cleve-land; he could now start his work, and went to
Buf-fa-lo to do so. Here he lived for eight years; at first he helped
his un-cle, in the care of a big farm, and the mon-ey he so made was
sent to his moth-er. Soon he had the chance to stud-y law; the place
where he went was two miles from his un-cle's home, but back and forth,
rain or shine, he walked each day. There is told a tale that shows how
he loved the books of law; for, the first day he went to this place, a
book was put in his hands to read; he kept at it for hours, till dark
came; then he found the rest of the men had gone home; all the doors
were locked; and he must stay there all night.

Such hard work soon made him a man who well knew the law; and folks gave
him big cases that brought him much fame. He did not go to the war, when
it broke out, for he felt that he could not leave his folks at home with
no one to care for them.

He rose fast in his law work; and more than one great case did he win;
he cared far more to take the part of the poor than of the rich; and at
no time in his life did he look for high place or fame; it came to him
though, for he was just the man to fill a high post well. His name was
soon known in his state and at Wash-ing-ton; for three years he w