214 THE FOGY DAYS AND NOW; 



From that small start, from that insignificant possession, 

 sprang in his mind a great conception ; he thirsted for knowl- 

 edge. He had learned from surrounding nature that from the lit- 

 tle acorn the great oak had grown, and right upon those steers 

 was laid the foundation for future greatness. He had deter- 

 mined to sacrifice the steers, earned by the many days' sweat 

 of his face and tiresome toil of his body, upon the altar of wis- 

 dom, and resolutely and literally " steered " his course in that 

 direction. 



Watch him as he starts from the humble home of his parents^ 

 dressed in a plain homespun suit, wool hat, and home tanned 

 shoes ; he walks behind, and with a plow line drives before 

 him his steers. I am familiar with the roads he traveled then 

 and in my imagination can see him now as he wends his way 

 over the mountains, up and down the long, rough, steep, hills 

 over creeks and rivers, on and on for more than a hundred 

 miles. As he wends his weary, lonesome way, the passing 

 equestrian but little dreams of the undeveloped power hidden 

 in his humble mien ; and as he ghees, or haws his steers to 

 either side of the road, to allow the splendid equi}>ages to pass 

 with their stylish occupants, unnoticed by them, could it have 

 entered their thoughts that one day that shabby youth would 

 be able to buy out their aggregate possessions and still have 

 abundance left. But on and on he trudges with weary feet, in- 

 tent upon oye great object, to seek the temple of learning, some- 

 times overtaken by the darkness of night, alone, friendless and 

 unknown, except by his steers ; at last his destination is reached 

 he has arrived at the Calhoun academy. He soon trades liis 

 steers for eight months' board, and arranges his spare hours to 

 labor for his tuition. 



l^ext we see him as he sits under the shades of the great 



