d teach a few weeks in one
town and then move on to another. They were called traveling teachers.
This was done because there were not anywhere near enough teachers to go
round, and it was thought only fair that each little village or town
should get its few weeks. Daniel followed these traveling teachers a
long time every year, sometimes walking two or three miles a day, at
other times boarding away from home. Nothing was taught in these schools
but reading and writing. Daniel was an almost perfect reader but a poor
writer.

One of Daniel's teachers wanted his pupils to know good poems and
chapters of books by heart. He offered a prize--a jack-knife--to the one
who should learn the most verses from the Bible. One after another was
called upon to recite. They had found it rather hard, and many of them
had learned but eight or ten verses at the most. When it was Daniel's
turn, he recited chapter after chapter. He kept on and on until it was
time for the teacher to dismiss school. Mr. Tappan said: "Well, there is
no doubt you deserve the prize. How many more chapters did you learn?"

"Oh, a lot more," answered Dan, laughing.

After Daniel was twelve, he began to grow stronger and did his share of
work on the farm. One day when he was helping his father in the
hayfield, Mr. Webster said: "Daniel, it is the men who have fine
educations that succeed in this world. I do not intend that you shall be
a drudge all your days. I am going to send you through college."

[Illustration: He rode there on horseback. _Page 129._]

Daniel was so pleased at this that he sat right down on the hay and
cried.

When Daniel was fitting for college at Exeter, he was about the
brightest pupil there, but it did seem funny that the boy who was to one
day be a great orator could not then declaim or recite before the
school. He would learn the nicest pieces and practise them in his own
room, but when he stood up before all the scholars and teachers, his
courage left him. Sometimes, when his name was called, he could not rise
from his seat. He was very much ashamed of himself and shed a good many
tears over his shyness. But he persevered and finally did better than
any of the boys. There is nothing like trying things enough times.

When Daniel went to Dartmouth College, he rode there on horseback,
carrying his feather-bed, blankets, clothes, and books on his horse. He
was still such a dark looking person that the students thought he was an
Ind