of books, and as time advanced, the passion for study and reading grew
upon him. He had a strong imagination, and his favorite styles of
reading were such as appealed to this. In the scenes of history and
romance he escaped from the sordid life of toil and shame to which his
father condemned him, into a large realm that seemed rich and
glorified in contrast. When he was but fourteen the thought of a
liberal education fired his ambition and became the dream of his life.
He made the very most of the district school to which he was sent in
winter. The teacher happened to be a well-educated man, and took pride
in his apt, eager scholar. Between the boy's and the mother's savings
they had obtained enough to secure private lessons in Latin and Greek,
and now at the age of seventeen he was tolerably well prepared for
college.

But the father had no sympathy at all with these tastes, and from the
incessant labor he required of his son, and the constant interruptions
he occasioned in his studies even in winter, he had been a perpetual
bar to all progress.

On the day previous to the scene described in the opening of this
chapter, the winter term had closed, and Mr. Rule, the teacher, had
declared that Arden could enter college, and with natural pride in his
own work as instructor, intimated that he would lead his class if he
did.

Both mother and son were so elated at this that they determined at
once to state the fact to the father, thinking that if he had any of
the natural feelings of a parent he would take some pride in his boy,
and be willing to help him obtain the education he longed for.