“‘One of our most famous American poets, John Greenleaf Whittier, in early life, was a shoemaker. Whittier never forgot the lessons he learned while working at the shoemaker’s bench. His book of poems, called Songs of Labor, printed in 1850, contains a stirring poem about shoemakers.’
“Here are two other famous men,” said Mr. Duwell, turning the page he was reading.
“‘Among noted Americans who were shoemakers was Roger Sherman, of Con-nec-ti-cut. He was a member of the Congress of 1774. Sherman was one of the brave men who signed the Dec-lar-a-tion of In-de-pen-dence.
“‘At least one vice-president of the United States was a shoemaker—Henry Wilson, who was made vice-president when General Grant became president in 1872. He was often called “the Na-tick Cobbler,” because he was once a shoemaker in the town of Natick.’
“So you see, Wallace,” Mr. Duwell went on after a little pause, “the kind of work you do doesn’t matter so much. It is how well you do it that makes the difference.”
“I think I do see, father,” said Wallace. “Maybe, after all, I’ll be a shoemaker. Then, perhaps, I’ll become a poet or vice-president of the United States.”
Everybody laughed.
“Wouldn’t you rather be a tailor?” asked Ruth.
“I don’t believe I should stand as good a chance then,” replied Wallace.