if your father will permit it."

"Thank you, sir. I'm sure he'll be proud to have me in your service."

"We'll now go to the library and see what we can find, for I'm of the
opinion that what the Reverend Mr. Stith said about King James won't
apply to you."

"What was that, sir?"

"In his History of Virginia he writes that King James' instructor had
given him 'Greek and Latin in great waste and profusion, but it was
not in his power to give him good sense.' By that don't think that
Greek and Latin are not both excellent. I would advise every boy to
study them if possible."

They were walking toward the house when they met Mrs. Jefferson.
Rodney was introduced, and was received most graciously. He flushed
with pleasure, and thought how gratified his father would be at the
kind manner with which he was received.

"What book would you especially like, Rodney?"

"May I have 'Josephus?' I began that down at the old home but father
loaned it, and the borrower never brought it back."

"Which assures me I'm perfectly safe in loaning to you. Yes, here's
'Josephus.' It's well to know history, especially these days when very
important history is in the making."

When Rodney mounted his horse, Mr. Jefferson stood stroking the
animal's nose, for he ever admired a fine horse, and he said: "If
worse comes to worst this colt would help pay off the mortgage, and,
should you decide to sell him, I would like to have a chance to buy
him;" then, seeing that the lad's face had become very serious, he
quickly added: "but there won't be any need of that yet awhile. By the
way, why did you give him the name, 'Nat?'"

"I named him after Nathaniel Bacon. Father says he'd rather have had
Bacon's fate and reputation than Lord Berkeley's."

"Berkeley didn't believe in encouraging boys in Virginia to read
books, so he and I wouldn't have agreed," and as the boy rode away he
said to himself, "and the Berkeleys in this generation think the good
English blood of these colonies can be ruled like serfs!"

As for Rodney, the brightness somehow seemed to have departed from the
bright day which had held such promise. His mind had been full of the
importance and pleasure of his visit. Now, he could only think, "Must
I sell Nat?" It had never occurred to him until suggested by Mr.
Jefferson. Was it his duty to part with the colt? Well, if necessary
he would do it, "But first I'll work my fingers off, Nat," and he
patted the glossy, arching neck