CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
A GOOD BEGINNING.
The patch of squashes—counting chickens before they are
hatched—ifs—ducks, and the bright side—explanation—hopeful
Nat—Nathaniel Bowditch—Sir Humphrey Davy—Buxton—benefit
of hopefulness—the squashes coming up—Frank Martin—"all
play and no work"—Ben Drake—scene when Nat was four
years old—"thinking on his own hook"—men of mark think
for themselves—"niggers' work"—great men not ashamed of
useful work—the harvest-day—Frank's surprise—Nat as a peddler—his
sister—his drawings—Samuel Budgett, Dr. Kitto,
and the rich merchant peddling—"creep before you can walk"—the
errand-boy and his success—what his culture of squashes
shows[1-17]
CHAPTER II.
UPWARD AND ONWARD.
Winter—in school—proposition to declaim—the dialogue, "Alexander
the Great and a Robber"—Nat is the robber—his reason—sympathy
for the poor and unfortunate—the dialogue learned
and spoken—Nat's eloquence—some boys who declaim poorly
at first make orators at last—Demosthenes—Daniel Webster—Nat
declaiming before visitors—the petition for shorter lessons—Nat
won't sign it—Sam Drake's predicament—the teacher hears
of the movement—his remarks about dull scholars—Newton,
Dr. Barrows, Adam Clarke, Chatterton, Napoleon, etc.—necessity
of application[17-27]
CHAPTER III.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
The bright summer-time—sport at Frank's—the dog "Trip"
playing hy-spy—the boys hiding—Trip finding them—the result
of the first game—the second game—the court scene—talk
about it with Sylvester Jones—Nat goes to court—the prisoners
are two of his schoolmates—his sympathy for them—examination
of witnesses—the remarks of the justice—Nat proposes to
plead their case—the sensation and result—what was said of
it—another instance of Nat's sympathy—what it
foreshadowed—Howard—Wilberforce—Buxton[28-37]
CHAPTER IV.
THE WILD CHERRIES.
The excursion—John's proposition—decision to go—the cherry-tree—is
it wild?—a discussion—filling their caps—surprised
by the owner—their escape—Nat's and Frank's caps left behind—the
owner carries them to the house—Nat's resolve to go to his
house—rapping at the door—his explanation and confession—the
caps restored with a plenty of cherries—the end thereof[38-47]
CHAPTER V.
ATHLETIC SPORTS.
Bathing—a passion for it—a particular swim—Nat the best
swimmer—swimming under water—a trial—a game of ball—Nat
the best player—the result of the game—remarks of spectators—the
fastest runner—a principle to be best—excelled in athletic
sports through same elements of character that made him excel in
school—the best shoe-black—Reynolds made every picture best—Buxton's
sports in boyhood, and Sir Walter Scott's—Wellington's
remark—Nat's remark twenty-five years after—Nat saving
a boy from drowning—his picture of the scene—how he used
his experience in athletic games[48-56]
CHAPTER VI.
A MISTAKE.
Winter school again—the skating proposition—the proposed grammar
class—Nat does not accede—discussion on the way to the
pond—Nat the best skater—the palm yielded to him—home to
supper—teacher's remarks next day about grammar—advice to
Nat and Charlie—his reference to Benjamin Franklin and Patrick
Henry—Nat and Charlie join the class—conversation
among the boys, and with Nat in particular—Sam put into the
objective case, and his mischief-making propensity—tying a tin-pail
to a dog's tail—the delight of Sam—the sorrow of Nat, and
verdict of the boys—Sam an improper noun—the end of school[57-68]
CHAPTER VII.
PROSPECT HILL.
Proposed visit to Prospect Hill—a hundred churches—situation
and description of the hill—view from the top—Trip accompanies
them—meeting with Sam and Ben Drake—Sam's assault
upon Trip—Frank's feelings—Nat's love of nature—this
characterizes youth generally who become renowned—Sir Francis
Chantrey—Robert Burns—Hugh Miller—more hope of boys
who love the beautiful of nature and art—reaching the summit—a
fire in the city—Sam's anger—counting the churches—Sam
kicks Trip down the precipice—Frank and Nat crying—Sam's
ridicule—Sam and Ben leave—Nat tells a story—carrying
dead Trip home[69-82]
CHAPTER VIII.
THE END OF SCHOOL-DAYS.
The agent of the factory wants Nat—picker-boy in Lowell a short
time—his home-sickness—a good sign for boys to love home,
and why—bad boys do not love home—the young man in
prison—such lads sneer at home-sickness—interview of Nat's
father and mother on the subject—their conclusion to put him into
the factory—end of school-days[83-89]
CHAPTER IX.
OPENING THE SUBJECT.
Nat coming home—telling the sad news to his mother—sifting
Sam Drake's character—going to Frank's to bury Trip—asking
permission of parents—how some take advantage—Frank's
arrangement for the burial—Trip's coffin—buried
in the garden—Nat's funeral oration—going to supper—the
difficult lesson in arithmetic—stunned by the announcement—his
objection—his mother suggested that the operatives had a
library—the result, and Nat's last thoughts at night[90-99]
CHAPTER X.
THE NEW CALL.
Monday morning—prompt boys—not a lazy bone in Nat—how
the bell called him—his first appearance at the factory—remark
of the overseer—meeting with Charlie Stone there—Charlie's
character—making use of knowledge acquired and difference in
boys—talk with the agent about the library—his advice about
spare moments—William Cobbett's account of his own privations
in early life—Nat's first noon-time—his work as bobbin boy—takes
the life of Dr. Franklin out of the library—meets with David
Sears—punctuality a cardinal virtue—how the factory bell cultivates
punctuality—here the beginning of his student life—read
through life of Franklin before Saturday night[100-112]
CHAPTER XI.
THE LOFTY STUDY.
Nat's proposition for systematic study—Charlie goes to his house—his
study in the attic—Dr. Kitto's study not so good—nor St.
Pierre's—they read and discuss Franklin and Patrick Henry—copy
of Franklin's rules—Patrick Henry's faculty of observation—Nat
like him—studying men and things—the case of Shakspeare—Nat
the best penman in the mill—choice between study
and the party—obliged to deny himself for the sake of study—some
disarrangements—thinks he can never know much—the
poor not so good a chance as the rich—wealth of character[113-123]
CHAPTER XII.
THE DEDICATION.
A hall to be dedicated—Nat's conversation with Frank about it,
and removal of the library—going to the dedication—the address
on Count Rumford—a sketch of the address to show why
Nat was so deeply interested—Count Rumford's origin, boyhood,
rise, learning, benevolence, and fame—conversation with his
mother about it—conversation with Charlie at the factory—a
life-long impression made on his mind by it[124-133]
CHAPTER XIII.
A SCHOOL SCENE.
A difficulty with Sam Drake in school—Nat hears of it—a true
account—Sam writes a letter about the teacher—the teacher
discovers it—many words spelled incorrectly—a copy of the
letter—Sam called into the floor—made to spell the words he has
spelled wrong—spells Alpheus, Coombs, knife, bargain,
spectacles—merriment it occasioned in school—Sam refuses to spell
more—he is punished and conquered—spells again—then he is
ferruled—sent to his seat—advice to the school—a good teacher—his
case before the committee—expelled—what the incident
teaches[134-141]
CHAPTER XIV.
TAKING SIDES.
The Federalist—Jefferson and the Democrat—the four votes—studied
with all his soul—Jefferson wrote the Declaration of
Independence—reading it—difference between Jefferson and Adams
—Jefferson's views of slavery—extract from his writings—another
extract—why Nat adopted these principles—his early sympathies—the
life of Jefferson made lasting impression on his
mind—case of Guido—Cotton Mather's "Essays to do Good"—Dr.
Franklin—Jeremy Bentham and greatest good to greatest
number—Alfieri and "Plutarch's Lives"—Loyola and "Lives
of the Saints"—a picture made—Dr. Guthrie[142-155]
CHAPTER XV.
THREE IMPORTANT EVENTS.
Frank in the factory—bad to be poor—worse to be mean—great
men generally poor—dispute with Dr. Franklin—intimate
friendship with Frank—the poor sympathize with each other—so
with the rich—influence of kindred occupation—the new
comer—his poverty—who Marcus was—the kind letter that
brought trial—proposition to leave home—talk with his mother—reminded
of Marcus—decision to leave home—departure and
new field—gone three years—his return[156-164]
CHAPTER XVI.
FINDING A LOST OPPORTUNITY.
Odd moments at grammar—making up for a lost opportunity—confession
of an error—inquiry after Sam Drake—his bad
character—Ben Drake—mastering grammar alone—nothing
dry in which we are interested—Nat's literary pocket—Roger
Sherman's pocket—Napoleon's pocket—Hugh Miller's pocket—Elihu
Burritt's pocket—many boys carry only a jack-knife in
their pocket—value of one hour a day—ten years of study in
half a century—lost opportunities not found—the proposed debating
club—Marcus again[165-173]
CHAPTER XVII.
THE PURCHASE.
A spare day—visit to Boston bookstores—shoe-leather cheap and
the proposed walk—conversation with Charlie and Frank—the
walk to Boston—what would attract some boys there—the book-stores
drew Nat—conversation with a bookseller—purchase of
"Locke's Essay on the Understanding"—his examination of
books—bits of knowledge—Dr. Kitto and the book-stall—homeward
bound—Monday morning with Charlie—influence of
Locke's Essay on him—its influence was such on Robert Burns,
Samuel Drew, and Mendelssohn—it aids the speaker to understand
the laws of human nature—more visits to Boston[174-182]
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE DEBATING SOCIETY.
Plans carried out—its object—how it must be conducted—the
organization—rule to make it respectable—his desire to make
all things respectable—the fire company reformed—the first
discussion—the question—an evening without a question—how
they got over it—Nat's speech—curiosity to hear—tremendous
compliments—Nat wards them off—contends that a man may
become what he wants to be—this the view of Buxton and
others—influence of the debating society on Nat—a similar
society influenced Curran, the Irish orator—and a living American
statesman—Canning, the English statesman—and Henry
Clay—interesting account of a similar society in Boston[183-195]
CHAPTER XIX.
COMING AND GOING.
Ben Drake's visit—the welcome of Frank—Mrs. Martin's
questions—surprise at learning that Ben is a Christian—going
to the prayer-meeting—Frank surprised to hear Ben speak—goes to tell
Nat the next morning—their conversation—Ben calls around—announcement
that Webster would speak in Boston—Nat's resolve
to hear him—the walk to Boston—the speech—Nat's observation
and remarks—power of the human voice—hearing Edward
Everett—walks to hear other speakers—learned much of the use
of language and oratory by observation—so with Robert Bloomfield—the
charm of the voice[196-205]
CHAPTER XX.
GOSSIP.
Talk which Nat created—scene in the sewing circle—use of spare
moments—boys who read their leisure moments not get into
mischief—old Mrs. Lane on education—her ideas about his
going to hear Webster and Everett and the book in his pocket—how
much time he saves a day for reading—wants more boys
like Nat—his going to the party—sympathy for the slighted—explanation
of the scene—waiting upon the slighted girls—the
effect of it—Nat's decision, independence, and kind-hearted
nature enabled him to do it—like Robert Burns in this respect[206-213]
CHAPTER XXI.
GOING TO THE THEATRE.
Nat's desire to witness a tragedy played—resolve to go and hear
Booth—talk with his companions—what would be said—the
evening of his visit—the play—after conversation with his
companions—the bar—why vices connected with theatres—can they
be severed from it—Nat wants to hear more—at home at one
o'clock—outside remarks afterwards—his course criticized—went
a number of times thereafter—his object in going good—yet
it was not safe—-the Roman youth at the amphitheatre—so
with theatre-goers—theatres always been schools of vice—acts
of Congress against—vain attempt to make theatres respectable
in Boston—the legend of Tertullian—the actor Macready exposed
the vice of theatres—Judge Bulstrode's charge—Sir
Matthew Hale's experience in boyhood—opinion of the infidel
Rousseau[214-225]
CHAPTER XXII.
THE DRAMATIC SOCIETY.
The proposition—how it was met—they undertake it—how the
theatre creates love of such amusement—the nephew who became
an actor by hearing—playing Macbeth—make their own scenery—Nat
wrote constitution—evening of the organization—evening
of the first play—a success—remarks of Mr Graves adverse
to such performances—talk in the village—remarks of old Mrs.
Lane—why Nat does it—conversation with Charlie—Nat opposed
to being an actor—desire to be a statesman[226-234]
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE SURPRISE.
The news—discussion in the town lyceum—occasioned by the
dramatic society—the question "Are dramatical exhibitions beneficial
to society?"—the evening of the debate—Nat goes—Mr.
Bryant's remarks on the low origin of theatres—remarks of another
on the immorality of actors—of another on the profane and
vulgar parts of plays—seven thousand indecent sentences in
English plays—King James the First—Addison's view—the
class of persons who patronize theatres—Nat's excitement—Frank's
question—Nat's attention—rises to speak—the surprise
of the audience—his argument and eloquence astonished all—remark
of Dr. Holt—reminds us of Patrick Henry—description
of his first plea—his triumph—Charlie's view—Nat's argument
changed no one's view—his eloquence they admired—invited
to join town lyceum—the dramatic society dead[235-250]
CHAPTER XXIV.
ANOTHER STEP.
Making a new study—conversation with Charlie—Nat's new plans—study
furniture—manual labor—Charlie's opinion—excessive
reading bad—using what is learned—Coleridge's description of
readers—difference between Nat and Charlie—Burke's Essay on
the Sublime and Beautiful—a bit of humor—using the library of
Harvard College—his walks thither—power of concentrating
thoughts—Hugh Miller fighting imaginary battles with shells—Cary
made a missionary by reading voyages of Captain Cook—Nat's
invincible purpose[251-259]
CHAPTER XXV.
EULOGY BY JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
Working on the mill-dam—news of the eulogy on Madison—how
much he would sacrifice to hear him—general regard for personal
appearance—goes in his workshop dress—a view of him in the
crowd—talk in the machine-shop—Nat back again—his views
of the eulogy—conversation—his leading traits of character seen
here[260-265]
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.
Beginning of the total abstinence movement—Nat espouses the
cause—talk with his companions about forming a society—James
Cole opposes—making a beast of one's self—the gutter
theory—customary for youth to drink then—drinking usages—the
decision to organize a society—preparations—evening of the
organization—Nat's speech and presentation of constitution—the
choice of officers—Frank Martin president, and Charlie Stone
secretary—important event for that time—sensation in the village—scene
in a grog-shop—signing away liberty—Nat invited
to give a lecture before the society—the decision and firmness
required then to advocate total abstinence[266-276]
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE TEMPERANCE LECTURE.
News of the lecture flies—scene in Miles's grog-shop—the rumseller
resolves to go—a crowd to hear the lecture—"The Fifteen
Gallon Law" was his subject—portrayed the evils of intemperance—showed
that the proposed law would remove the evil
among the poor—showed that it introduced no new principle of
legislation—discussed other topics—the lecture gained him much
applause—the rumseller Miles was reached and resolved to quit
selling liquor—Johnson his customer attacking him next morning—their
battle of words—the result—delivered the lecture in
neighboring towns—delivered others at home[277-286]
CHAPTER XXVIII.
SPEECH-MAKING.
Nat's position—worked for it—bobbin boy father of the orator—so
with other men—Sir James Mackintosh—Audubon—Benjamin
West—Eli Whitney, and what his sister said—poem of
Longfellow—interest in politics—urged to address political
bodies—conversation with Charlie—decides to speak—does so
at home and abroad—the adventure of a political committee, and
a good joke—Nat's speech and their arrangement[287-297]
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE EARLY VICTIM.
News that James Cole is frozen—Frank's version of the affair—made
drunk at a grog-shop—lay senseless in the street all night—his
previous character—his good abilities—all sorts of rumors
abroad—he revives, but is still very sick—what the physician
says—nearly three months pass—a funeral described—the last
of James Cole—the sexton's view—the youthful drunkard's
grave[298-304]
CHAPTER XXX.
THE END.
A quarter of a century passed—what and where is Nat and his
associates—the drunkard—Sam and Ben Drake in prison—power
of early vicious habits—Frank Martin at the head of a
public institution—Charlie Stone agent of one of the wealthiest
and best known manufacturing companies of New England—Marcus
Treat a highly distinguished lawyer in his adopted State—Nat
governor of the best State in the Union—the change—appeal
to youth[305-310]

CHAPTER I.

A GOOD BEGINNING.

A little patch of ground enclosed by a fence, a few adjacent trees, Nat with his hoe in hand, his father giving directions, on one of the brightest May mornings that was ever greeted by the carol of birds, are the scenes that open to our view.

"There, Nat, if you plant and hoe your squashes with care, you will raise a nice parcel of them on this piece of ground. It is good soil for squashes."

"How many seeds shall I put into a hill?" inquired Nat.

"Seven or eight. It is well to put in enough, as some of them may not come up, and when they get to growing well, pull up all but four in a hill. You must not have your hills too near together,—they should be five feet apart, and then the vines will cover the ground all over. I should think there would be room for fifty hills on this patch of ground."