“AndI’msureIstudy，“addedDan，noddingwithagroantowardtheblackboardfullofneatfigures。
“SeewhatJamesdid。Hedidnotmeantobeselfish，buthismotherwasproudofhim，andlethimdoasheliked，workingbyherselfthathemighthavebooksandtimetoreadthem。OneautumnJameswantedtogotoschool，andwenttotheministertoseeifhewouldhelphim，aboutdecentclothesandbooks。NowtheministerhadheardthegossipaboutJames’sidleness，andwasnotinclinedtodomuchforhim，thinkingthataboywhoneglectedhismother，andletherslaveforhim，wasnotlikelytodoverywellevenatschool。ButthegoodmanfeltmoreinterestedwhenhefoundhowearnestJameswas，andbeingratheranoddman，hemadethisproposaltotheboy，totrynowsincerehewas。
“’Iwillgiveyouclothesandbooksononecondition，James。’
“’Whatisthat，sir？’andtheboybrightenedupatonce。
“’Youaretokeepyourmother’swood-boxfullallwinterlong，anddoityourself。Ifyoufail，schoolstops。’Jameslaughedatthequeerconditionandreadilyagreedtoit，thinkingitaveryeasyone。