150 TWO WAYS TO GO TO SEA:

while, Mr. Naylor got him to copy some
letters, and finding that he did it very neatly
and well, he used often to take him off from
his hard work in the shop, to make out bills
or keep accounts in his little counting-room.

“Thus some years passed away, and John
was becoming one of the most important
men in Mr. Naylor’s shop.”

« And, I suppose, by this time he had for-
gotten all about his plan of going to sea,”
said Rollo.

“Not at all,” said Jonas. ‘“ His desire to
see foreign countries grew stronger and
stronger. He used to read a good deal
about England, and the great iron-works
there; and one reason he had for acquiring
so much knowledge was to be at the head
of his business. ‘If I can only get my trade
well learned, and get well established in
business, I can earn money enough to go
where I please.’

«This was a very good calculation, and
it turned out even better than John had ex-
pected, as you will see in the end. He soon
learned geometry, and that helped him along
a great deal in his studies.”

«‘ How did he learn it?” asked Lucy.