David smiled at Nat's view of the matter, and asked, "What book have you there?"
"The life of Dr. Franklin. You know they have a library for the operatives in the factory, and I mean to make the most of it."
"But you won't get much time to read, if you work in the factory all day, from Monday morning till Saturday night."
"I can get two or three hours in a day, if I sit up till ten o'clock, and that is early enough for anybody to go to bed. I shall read this volume through by Saturday night."
"Well, you'll make the most of it if anybody can," said David, laughing, and hurrying on homewards.
Nat commenced reading Dr. Franklin's life that evening. It was his first step in a somewhat systematic course of reading, for which he was indebted to the manufacturing company. But for his factory life he might not have been introduced to those authors that gratified his desire for knowledge, and nurtured in his soul that energy and perseverance which he was already known to possess.
His parents did not converse much with him about his new business, as they thought it might not be wise; but they interested themselves in his reading. His mother found he was deeply absorbed in Franklin's life, though he said but little of the book, except in reply to her inquiries. But he seemed hardly willing to lay it aside at bed-time, and eagerly took it up to read during the few spare moments he had when he came to his meals. The book was read through before the next Sabbath.