The Orbhans. 15

of February arrived—on the evening of which
day the class was to open—he went to the work-
room more disposed than ever to persevere in
labour, and with his mind full of good resolu-
tions. During the whole of the day he looked
forward to the evening as a reward given for his
industry, and never before did his labour seem
‘lighter to him.

Born in a manufacturing town, he had been
placed at seven years of age before a machine
which he was so accustomed to see working
that he had never taken the trouble to inquire
about anything beyond what was necessary for
his own work. Thus, although he was the most
industrious boy in the establishment, he was, in
reality, in a state of profound ignorance as to
general knowledge, and he felt it to be a very
hard task to fix his attention upon his dry
lessons. His thoughts would often wander from
the subject he had to study, and his memory,
from want of use, often failed him.

In time, however, he succeeded in overcoming
these difficulties—the results of his neglected
education during childhood—and by dint of a
determination to get on, and not to be beaten
in the struggle, he managed to overcome his