some men and boys walked the whole distance. Often, in some sections, the father would ride horseback to meeting, with his wife on a pillion behind. him, carrying her youngest child, the older children. following on foot. The meagre religious privileges were highly valued, and there was much labor and hardship involved in availing themselves of them.

The preachers of that day were illiterate men, good, but uncultivated. They were pioneer preachers, just as the settlers were pioneer settlers. They were well suited, perhaps, to the times and locality, rough, sincere, earnest men, who found real satisfaction in travelling through the destitute country, usually on horseback, to do the people spiritual good. Occasionally there was a remarkable preacher among them, possessing great native ability, force of character, and singular magnetic presence. These were especially welcome, although any one of the number was received cordially. In their travels they called at all cabins, as pastors now make visits from house to house, their visits being chiefly of a religious character. They ate and lodged in cabins, wherever noon and night overtook them. The best fare that a cabin had was cheerfully set before them, and the best advice and sympathy the preacher could command were freely proffered. It is not possible for us, at this day, to say how great was the influence of this pastoral work. Men may read about it, and laugh over it now, but there can be no doubt that it provided a much needed and indispensable source of Christian power, influence, and enjoyment. It contributed largely to

make pioneer life nobler, and, in an important sense, educational.

Jarnes enjoyed no better opportunities of religious worship than we have described, before he was ten years of age. Occasional worship was a privilege that he highly prized, as others did. He did not readily let slip an opportunity to attend public worship. And the impressions it left upon his heart were gauged by his deep interest in such occasions.

Whether there was any meeting or not, however, the weekly Sabbath was recognized in the Garfield cabin. No labor upon that day, except works of necessity, was the rule carefully observed. The Bible stood in the place of preacher. It was both read and studied. Mrs. Garfield's rule was to read four chapters daily on week days, and more on the Sabbath, when she formally expounded it in her sensible and thoughtful manner. The children asked questions as well as she. James was especially inquisitive about the Scriptures, and, after he learned to read, he read them much, both on the Sabbath and week days. Bible stories that he learned from his mother's lips, before he could speak plainly, became invested with new charms when he could read them at his leisure. He became so familiar with many narratives, that he knew just where in the Bible to turn to them; and he had a multitude of questions to ask about "God's book," as his mother reverently called it.

"How do you know that it is God's book,' moth er?" he asked.

"Because it is not like any book that man ever wrote."

"You said once that Moses, Isaiah, David, Matthew, Paul, and others wrote it," recalling his mother's explanation of different books.

"Yes, that is true, they did write it; but they wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. They could not have written it without God's help. They wrote just what God told them, by his Spirit, to write." "And that is why you call it God's book?" James inquired.

"Yes; he is the author of it, although he di rected men to write it, and guided them, also, in doing it."

"Are all the stories in it true stories?" "Yes; every one of them."

"Is it true that Joseph had a coat of

colors?"

"I expect it is."

many different

"Why didn't he have a coat of one color? Would it not be easier to make such a one?"

"His father loved him more than he did his other children, and he made such a coat for him out of his partiality."

"Did he do right to love one of his children more than he did others?"

"No; he did not."

"Was his father a good man?"

"Yes. Some good men do wrong.'

"If good men do wrong, how do you know them. from bad men?"

"They don't do so many wicked things, nor so bad things, as bad men do."

"Can't good men stop doing bad things?"

"Yes; with God's help."

"Don't God always help them?"

"No."

"Why don't he?"

"Perhaps they don't deserve it."

"Can't men be good without his help?"
"No; and what is worse, they won't be."
"Why won't they?"

"Because they are so wicked."

"How can they be good, then?" meaning that he could not see how a good man could be a wicked man at the same time.

In this dialogue appears the inquisitiveness of James, as well as his discrimination and thoughtfulness. Often his mother was unable to answer his boyish questions about the Bible. Their depth and point confounded her. It was here, especially, that "she had unmistakable proof of his remarkable talents. It was around the old family Bible that the chief interest of the Sabbath clustered in her rude home. It was to her family what a Constitution is to the State, and what character is to the individual. Largely it made up for the absence of books, teachers, money, and conveniences. It would be quite impossible to say how much unalloyed happiness it contributed to the family. Certainly, its wise teachings were so indelibly impressed upon James' heart that its contents were more familiar to him at forty years of age than they are to most Christian men, so that its figures, symbols, and laconic sentences adorned his public addresses, to the admiration of listeners.

It is probable that James and his brother and sisters received more real valuable lessons, to assist in the formation of good habits, and to establish noble purposes, in their western cabin, than the children of many Christian families do from the constant ministra tions of public worship. The absence of religious advantages was a good reason for the best improvement of the few enjoyed. The mother, too, felt additional obligations to guide, instruct, and mould the hearts of her offspring, because there was so little outside of her cabin to aid her. For these reasons, perhaps James enjoyed better advantages to become distinguished than he would have had in the more populous and wealthy parts of the country.

When James was eight years old the Temperance Reformation was moving on with power. The New England States presented a scene of enthusiasm without precedent, and the interest spread into northeastern Ohio. Even the cabins of pioneers were reached by the wave of influence for temperance. Mrs. Garfield was just the woman to welcome such a reform, and to appreciate its true value. The subject was a fitting one for the Sabbath, although it was not neglected on other days. As the handmaid of religion, it challenged her best thoughts and efforts.

"Drunkenness is a terrible sin," she said, “and I was always glad that your father had the same view of it that I have."

'Didn't he drink rum or whiskey?" asked James.

"Seldom; and he got out of patience with men intoxicated. He thought they were very weak men by nature."