evisions of future success, as every
very intelligent lad must have; but at present his ambition took no very
lofty flights. The greatest man of his acquaintance was the Professor of
Odd Jobs. And to attain the glorious eminence occupied by the learned
and eloquent dignitary was the highest aspiration of our boy's early
genius.

"Aunty," he said one day, after remaining in deep thought for a long
time, "do you think if I was to study very hard indeed, night and day,
for years and years, I should ever be able to get as much knowledge and
make as fine speeches as the professor?"

"How do I know, Ishmael? You ask such stupid questions. All I can say
is, if it aint in you it will never come out of you," answered the
unappreciating aunt.

"Oh, if that's all, it is in me; there's a deal more in me than I can
talk about; and so I believe I shall be able to make fine speeches like
the professor some day."

Morris certainly took great pains with his pupil; and Ishmael repaid his
teacher's zeal by the utmost devotion to his service.

By the time our boy had attained his seventh year he could read
fluently, write legibly, and work the first four rules in arithmetic.
Besides this, he had glided into a sort of apprenticeship to the odd-job
line of business, and was very useful to his principal. The manner in
which he helped his master was something like this: If the odd job on
hand happened to be in the tinkering line, Ishmael could heat the irons
and prepare the solder; if it were in the carpentering and joining
branch, he could melt the glue; if in the brick-laying, he could mix the
mortar; if in the painting and glazing, he could roll the putty.

When he was eight years old he commenced the study of grammar,
geography, and history, from old books lent him by his patron; and he
also took a higher degree in his art, and began to assist his master by
doing the duties of clerk and making the responses, whenever the
professor assumed the office of parson and conducted the church services
to a barn full of colored brethren; by performing the part of mourner
whenever the professor undertook to superintend a funeral; and by
playing the tambourine in accompaniment to the professor's violin
whenever the latter became master of ceremonies for a colored ball!

In this manner he not only paid for his own tuition, but earned a very
small stipend, which it was his pride to carry to Hannah, promising her
that some day soon he should be a