The Black Forge Mills

by William P. Chipman

There were over five thousand volumes in the library belonging to the school. From this treasury of knowledge Ray drew largely. It was the first time in his life he had been favored with such a privilege, and every moment of his spare time was occupied with books therefrom. History, poetry, the best works of fiction, were alike devoured by him. His tenacious memory held much that he read. He began here, too, a habit of systematic reading, which he maintained all through his student life, and found of immense value.

"What are you doing with those books, Ray; copying them?" asked Edward, one day.

"No, though I am making their contents mine as much as possible," Ray replied. "As I read, I try to note down the main thought, and the line of argument of the writer. When I have finished the book, I review and re-write the notes I have made on the chapters, bringing them into a consecutive whole. Thus, when I am through, I have the substance of that book fixed in mind; know the important topics on which it treats; and can file away the notes for reference, if I so desire, hereafter. I mean to follow this custom with every book I read, and make myself familiar with its contents."

"No one can doubt the wisdom of the plan; but how about the patience necessary to carry it out?" added his chum.

"I think in the long run I shall get over more ground than I should with the usual method of reading, and with this advantage, I shall know and can utilize what I have read. Then, hereafter, when I speak or write upon a given subject, I shall be able to turn at once to the best source for the necessary material," answered Ray.

"Your powder and shot will be right at hand; all you will have to do will be to load and fire," suggested Ned. "Well, that is a good idea, and if there is no patent on your arrangement, I will adopt it too."

"It is public property; has been used long before my time, and will be used long after. I got the idea myself from a book I was reading not long ago. I do not see how there can be more than one opinion as to the usefulness of the plan," replied Ray, resuming his work.

This circumstance shows how systematically Ray entered into all his studies. His teachers soon began to look upon him as a pupil of no ordinary ability. He showed plainly that he meant to fully understand every topic under discussion. His motto to do everything thoroughly was again and again illustrated. Long before his first year was completed he was regarded as the most promising scholar in the school.

An incident occurred in the spring term, moreover, that well illustrated Ray's love of fair play, and his quiet, unassuming way of helping others. He came out on the playground one day to find a number of the students putting one of the town boys who had ventured on the field under the pump. The day was raw and chilly, and the lad was already well drenched, when Ray discovered him. With a quick bound he was at the boy's side, and throwing his tormentors to the right and left with his strong arms, he caught the child—for he was scarcely more than that—in his arms, and carried him to his home.

Calling the next day to inquire after the boy, he found him dangerously sick from the drenching he had received. The mother, a widow with several smaller children, was almost beside herself with anxiety and despair. The boy, young as he was, had been her main stay, and by doing chores for a neighbor had earned a small pittance, upon which at this season the family was almost wholly dependent. Ray at once found time amid his own excessive duties to perform the boy's work, and each week handed over to the widow the small pay allowed, until the lad had fully recovered. The generous, noble act would probably have gone unnoticed had not the widow herself told of it. In some way it reached the ears of the principal of the academy, and one morning at the close of the chapel services he detained the students and told the whole story. He contrasted Ray's manly act with the cowardly and senseless one of the lad's persecutors, and ended by ordering the guilty students to defray all the expenses of the lad's sickness or they would be immediately expelled.