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e aE ED BLAKE lived on a farm with his parents in one of our west-
ern states. Ned’s father had been a merchant in one of the
eastern cities, but misfortune overtook him; he failed, and after
paying his debts only a small sum of money remained. Mr.

    

 

family with him, he went into one of the western states and
bought a small farm.

Only a few acres had been cleared upon it, and here Ned found life hard
indeed. But he worked faithfully until a boy of seventeen, when he felt that
he was no longer needed at home, and asked his father if he might ‘‘do for him-
self?” Mr. Blake was sorry that Ned wanted to leave home, but knowing that
he was ambitious and to be trusted, and that he was desirous of securing an
education, readily gave his consent.

The summer before he left home his father had given him all he could
raise on a few acres of ground. Ned planted this to wheat, and after it was
harvested, Ned was in possession of what seemed to him a very large sum of
money. Some twenty miles distant was a little town favored with a most ex-
cellent academy. Here Ned resolved to go and attend school so long as his
funds lasted. He did not feel able to pay the sum demanded for board, so he
rented a simple room containing a stove, a table, a cot and a chair, and there,
during the long winter evenings, he sat alone, poring over his lessons.

Such industry as his could not go unneticed. Professor Dawson, the prin-
cipal of the school, saw in Ned a likely lad, and gave him all the assistance
within his power. One day Ned did not have his Latin lesson so well as usual.
The Professor knew that there must be some good cause for this, and resolved
to visit Ned in his room that night. He called, and upon reaching the room,
he found the door was open and peeped in. There sat Ned ina chair, fast
asleep. His head rested on his hands, and his books lay on the floor.

The Professor was touched at the sight. He knew that Ned had fallen
asleep from sheer overwork. Rousing him gently he talked with him about his
lessons, and learned with pleasure that Ned had determined to make teaching
his profession. The Professor talked with him a long time that evening, and
left him with a deep love in his heart for the boy. Among other things, the