is idea of going to sea, but he
remained for some months with his employer. One day, however, Mr.
Barton's daughter spoke of him as a hired servant, and this made James
so angry, that, in spite of the persuasions of his master, he left the
factory, and returned home on the following day.

His mother was glad to see him back again, though she did not agree
with his hasty action in leaving without notice. James explained to
his mother that he had not taken offence at being called a hired
servant, but at the insulting manner in which the words were said.
Then he filled her heart with dread by expressing a wish to go to sea.
This was a severe blow to his mother, who told him that she could never
give her consent to that. She even told him to say no more about
taking such a step unless he wanted to make her unhappy.

As a man had been engaged to do the work on Mrs. Garfield's farm, James
once more went away in search of a job. This time he was employed by
an uncle, who lived at Newburg, to chop wood. While there he lodged
with his sister Mehetabel, who had been married some time before. He
now worked within sight of Lake Erie, and his desire to be a sailor was
intensified when he saw the vessels sailing to and fro on the broad
expanse of water before him. At first he lost much time watching the
ships, but when he found that his work suffered, he gave it all his
attention.

When he spoke to his sister about being a sailor, she replied as her
mother had done, and told him that he had better be anything than that.
He was too clever, she said, to throw away his abilities on board a
ship.

When the work was done, James carried the money he had earned to his
mother, and then engaged to help a farmer who lived a few miles away.
The work was very hard, and the men were busy from early morning till
late at night. James, however, would not be beaten.

"If I can't do as much as others do," he said, "I will give up the job."

At the end of the season he received his wages, and the farmer said, as
he paid him, "You've done well."

CHAPTER X

THE ROPE THAT SAVED HIM.

The Driver of a Canal-boat Mule-team--Defence of the Eight--James
speaks out plainly--A Narrow Escape--A Severe Illness--The
Turning-point in James's Life.

When Mrs. Garfield found that James had become unsettled and restless,
she decided to give way, and allow him to obtain some experience of a
seafaring life. Finding that he had no definite p