linn^Uts fusskli., m. d. 51 



which Ihee is capable. Then whatever thee does will be so nuich gained 

 toward professional knowledge, for to be a good doctor requires a man 

 to know something of everything, and the better He knows it the more 

 successful will he be. There is no need for haste in getting a diploma ; 

 green sprouts are not often turned into bread ; the grain must have time 

 to ripen; the boy nmst have time to grow into a man. Take time, 

 plenty of time, and work straight along to the end. I know of no way 

 that offers to thee better than teaching, because while thee is teaching 

 others thee can be educating as well as sustaining thyself, and slowly 

 accuuuilating the means to enable thee to go to the University. This 

 can be done a part of each year, and the other part can be devoted to 

 more special preparation. Part of the time thee can spend in studying 

 materia medica and pharmacy in a drug store, and thee can besides 

 devote at least three winters to attending lectures and hospitals. Take 

 time, plenty of time. If thee graduates in five years, or six or seven 

 years e\'en, it will be soon enough. IMake the way, and every step is an 

 important gain for all time, for as exercise strengthens the muscle, so 

 exercise strengthens the mind. The tree grows broader, stronger and 

 taller for the storm as well as the sunshine. For all created things, work 

 is an eiul as well as a mean. It brings at once its own exceeding great 

 reward — free work, right work, of course, and none other. Whatever, 

 therefore, that time offers for thee to ilo, do it, and do it well." 



This visit to Indiana had intich to do with broadening the 

 character of Lintitieiis Ftissell. He had no end of " fun," 

 but it was not all fun by any means. He had his initiation 

 into the harder parts of farm life and work. He had the 

 experience of teaching a rather rough school, including the 

 necessary " thrashing" of an tinruly pttpil larger than him- 

 self, but the job was done in his usual thorough manner. 

 The bad boy humbly came back, promising to behave himself, 

 which promise he kept as well as he could, to the betterment 

 of himself and the school. 



Then there were numerous spelling bees, attendance at 

 debating societies, the excitement of an active political cam- 

 paign, resulting in the election of Lincoln and Hamlin. There 

 were special arithmetic schools, where mathematics were taught 

 to music, but in which he records he learned many short cuts 

 and quick methods of ctmiputation that he found of much 

 use in after life. 



