life. They were not boys, but, for the most part, well advanced towards maturity; and, having wrought out their own means of education, where little inclined to neglect the opportunities that had been won at so much cost. They knew the value of time, and had a sense of the responsibilities of their position. Their first scholar-the present Professor Stowe-has long since established his rank among the first scholars of the country. It could have been no easy task to hold successful rivalry with students so much in earnest as these were. During the earlier part of his college course, it may be doubted whether Pierce was distinguished for scholarship. But, for the last two years, he appeared to grow more intent on the business in hand, and, without losing any of his vivacious qualities as a companion, was evidently resolved to gain an honorable elevation in his class. His habits of attention and obedience to college discipline were of the strictest character; he rose progressively in scholarship, and took a highly creditable degree.

"During the first two years, Pierce was extremely inattentive to his college duties, bestowing only such modicum of time upon them as was requisite to supply the merest superficial acquaintance with the course of study for the recitation-room. The consequence was, that, when the relative standing of the members of the class was first authoritatively ascertained, in the junior year, he found himself occupying precisely the lowest position in point of scholarship. In the first mortification of wounded pride, he resolved never to attend another recitation, and accordingly absented himself from college exercises of all kinds for several days, expecting and desiring that some form of punishment, such as suspension or expulsion, would be the result. The faculty of the college, however, with a wise lenity, took no notice of this behavior; and at last, having had time to grow cool, and moved by the grief of his friend Little and another classmate, Pierce determined to

resume the routine of college duties. 'But,' said he to his friends, if I do so, you shall see a change!'

"Accordingly, from that time forward, he devoted himself to study. His mind, having run wild for so long a period, could be reclaimed only by the severest efforts of an iron resolution; and for three months afterwards, he rose at four in the morning, toiled all day over his books, and retired only at midnight, allowing himself but four hours for sleep. With habit and exercise, he acquired command over his intellectual powers, and was no longer under the necessity of application so intense. But from the moment when he made his resolve until the close of his college life, he never incurred a censure, never was absent (and then unavoidably) but from two college exercises, never went into the recitation-room without a thorough acquaintance with the subject to be recited, and finally graduated as the third scholar of his class. Nothing save the low standard of his previous scholarship prevented his taking a yet higher rank.

"The moral of this little story lies in the stern and continued exercise of self-controlling will, which redeemed him from indolence, completely changed the aspect of his character, and made this the turning point of his life."

Franklin Pierce's early school-days were not marked by great industry or success, perhaps, although at the age of sixteen he was able to enter college. The first half of his college course was by no means distinguished, and indeed so much of his time was squandered in idleness and indifferent sport as to start for a time the question of his expulsion. And he was himself so discouraged with his moderate prospects as to hesitate in his course. At this critical juncture the peculiar services of his father were especially important. In all his difficulties he got no

support from his parents. His matter-of-fact, straightforward old father had no ear for such things.

As an illustration of how such matters worked with him at home, the following story is given. substantially as related to me me by Mrs. Tappan Wentworth, of Lowell, a daughter of Nancy M. McNeil:

"Frank was sent into a neighboring community to attend a school of some reputation (the academy at Hancock, it is supposed), but after having some misunderstanding with the teacher, he came to the conclusion that he did not like the school, and that a short way of correcting the evil was to leave unceremoniously, and go home. This plan he carried out at his earliest convenience. But in making his calculations he had neglected to consider all the possibilities in the turn the affair might take at home. He arrived at home just as the family were finishing the midday meal. In the yard he first met his father, who simply said: 'Hallo, Frank; what's up? On Frank's making a brief statement to the effect that he had quit school on unfavorable terms with the teacher without saying goodbye, the old General, with no further words, called to his mother that Frank had come, and wanted his dinner. This appeared to Frank a very easy ending to the whole matter. But while he was eating his dinner his father notified John, the hired man, to have a horse ready, and, without a moment's waiting when Frank was done, to carry him back to school. Accordingly, when Frank came out speculating on the pleasing attitude of matters at home, he was surprised to receive a quiet notice from his father to mount with John, who would now see him safely back at school. Frank knew there would be no use of delay or expostulation, and was soon jogging back on the difficult road to wisdom."

Subsequently there was little hitch in the way pointed out for Frank, so far as he and his father were concerned. This was, perhaps, the first very important lesson in his life, and may be put down as the starting-point. Had he proven to be the master in the case, his career might have been quite different. He found now that only in a manly, straightforward way, in the use of every effort he possessed, would he be countenanced and supported by his father.

This was the first really great service rendered him by his father; that is, showing him that he had, at least, one legitimate, discreet, wise, determined, sincere, and just master and friend, a lesson that no wise, true, and loving parent will ever neglect to enforce beyond dispute, upon his child.

It was early decided that Frank had qualities for a lawyer, but what his especial fitness for the legal profession was did not, however, so certainly appear until a later date. He had not been very fond of books, and was not overstocked with industry. But he was thought to possess undoubted traits of a speaker, a quality considered generally an absolute essential for a lawyer, and as dispensing, to a great extent, with other traits. In person, voice, and manner, he came up to the highest standard for a successful lawyer. Without a brilliant preparation, or any superior indications of success, from the day he hung out his name in a wagon-shed opposite his father's house, at Hillsborough, he showed what he had not before, perhaps, that he was determined to

disgrace neither his name nor his profession. Failure did not dishearten him; he was not abashed by unshowy and mean circumstances; he believed in his own power; he believed he could attain an object; this was no more, perhaps, than an honorable position in his profession, and a fair comparison with its leading members. He did not overestimate the case, and sit down to dream. The result was beyond his expectation, if not also that of his most sanguine watchers and friends. To say that Franklin Pierce became a great lawyer, would, perhaps, not be true, or, at least, the assertion would be a matter of cavil. Some of the traits of a great lawyer he certainly had, and carried them into his practice, the only test. Upon how far others may have been developed it is not necessary to speculate. Politics came in with its allurements, and although he broke away from it two or three times, he became too much of a politician to be a great lawyer. Beyond this shallow field was the deep ground of statesmanship as a goal; that he ever reached this may still more be a mooted question.

C. C. Bonney, a lawyer of heart, brain, and professional standing in Chicago, says, in his "Sketch of the Characteristics of a Great Lawyer," that "a truly great lawyer is one of the highest products of civilization."

See some of Mr. Bonney's great lawyer's characteristics :

"His learning is sufficient to enable him to realize the comparative littleness of all human achievements. He has