James went on with his work at home, attending school in the winter, reading whatever books he could find, and taking odd jobs in carpentry to add to the family income.
His heart, however, was still on the sea.
At last he said to his mother:
"If I should be captain of a ship some day, you wouldn't mind that, would you?"
Now Mrs. Garfield, like a wise mother, had been studying her restless boy and was not unprepared for this returning desire on his part "to follow the sea."
"You might try a trip on Lake Erie," she replied, "and see how you like it; but if you want to be 'somebody,' as you say, I would look higher than to a sea-captain's position."
James hardly heard his mother's last words, so delighted was he to have this unexpected permission.
He packed up his things as quickly as possible and walked the whole distance to Cleveland.
Boarding the first schooner he found lying at the wharf, he asked one of the crew if there was any chance for another hand on board.
"If you can wait a little," was the answer, "the captain will soon be up from the hold."