"No, sir; only a little, for amusement."
"Just to see what you could do?" added Mr. Williams, inquiringly.
"Yes, that is all."
"Well, I advise you to cultivate your talent for drawing. These animals are well done, too. Practise will give you an ability in this line, which may prove of real service to you in future years."
George had drawn animals, also, in the book, and he had given wings to some birds with a flourish of his pen, showing both taste and tact in the use of the pen. George was not a boy who believed in flourishes, except those executed in ink. His interest in the art of penmanship drew his attention to these as ornamental and ingenious.
"A facile use of the pen will always be serviceable to you," he said to George. "No one can become too skilful in wielding it. But it requires much careful practise."
"I have discovered that," answered George. "I do not expect to excel in the art of penmanship."
"You may, with your application and perseverance," responded his teacher. "'Perseverance conquers all things,' it is said, and I believe it."
"But I have not time for everything," remarked George. "Odd moments are all the time I can devote to such things."