From Farm Boy to Senator

you going

Hoyt's

you. Where is 'Ze

at work on

l both be farmers

ly. "I don't think I shall like it, but the

ore, and teach schoo

ould like it bett

eight years old

f slender frame, and his large dark eyes, deep set beneath an overhanging br

of the Merrimac, on both sides of which rose high hills, which the boy climbed many a time for the more extended view they commanded. From a high sheep-pasture on his father's farm, t

humble store wi

t, which could strike terror into the hearts of delinquent schol

said Master Hoyt, who wa

r," answered Dani

get what you learned

I will t

rget your readi

er I can find, but I do

. Ezekiel writes far better than you. But you won't

t have to do th

You may keep school like me-who knows?-but you'll have to get some one else

er, though he was a good reader, wrote an excellent hand, and had a slight knowledge of grammar, could carry his pupils no further. No pup

ttention to his two young callers. He regarded them rather as pupils than as customers, for

acted by a cotton pocket-handkerchief, which

ed the direction

dkerchief," he said. "Would you l

s,

tively rare and difficult to obtain, to combine literature with plain homely utility, by printing reading matter of some kind on cheap

story?"

tution of the United States-t

, and up to that moment he had not known that there was a constitution, and inde

he price?"

y-five

once, but was the accumulation of pennies saved. He may have had other plans for spending it, but now when there was a chance of s

it, and you'll know something of the government we're living under. I suppose you've he

s,

was one of the first to answer the call. But of

have heard fath

General Washington's headquarters on the night after Arn

r his soldier father, who on his side was devoted to the best interests of his sons, and was re

ust never forget how your father and other brave men fought to secure the blessings we now enjoy. Now General

when the words recurred to him, and in the light of his father's conversations, which from time to time he held with his neighbo

William Hoyt, as the boys tur

ther may want

ust be ready to take up your studies next

not one to dazzle the imagination even of a boy of eight, for as I have a

stowed away in his pocket. He was saving it till even

f the open log fire he brou

here, my son?" a

, with the Constitution of th

did you

er Hoyt'

his money for i

ill do him no harm to read the Constitution

rs he was to become the staunch supporter and defender. For this boy was in his manhood to rank among the great men of the e

arthy face, and dark eyes, was