edly failed to fasten its web, but at last succeeded. The desponding aspirant for the throne of Scotland put on new strength and fresh courage, thankful for the silent lesson which a kind Providence sent to him while he was ready to give up in despair. Not many boys learn so early and well the lesson as did the youthful Grant.

His father has given me another amusing little inc dent:

"I will relate another circumstance, which I have never mentioned before, which you may use as you think proper. He was always regarded as extremely apt in figures. When he was about ten years old, a distinguished phrenologist came along, and stayed several days in the place. He was frequently asked to examine heads, blindfolded. Among others, Ulysses was placed in the chair. The phrenologist felt his head for several minutes, without saying anything; at length, a distinguished doctor asked him if the boy had a capacity for mathematics. The phrenologist, after some further examinations, said: 'You need not be surprised if you see this boy fill the Presidential chair some time.'"

CHAPTER II.

The "Log Hauling "-The Young Patriot wants an Education-His Opportunities-How he becomes Cadet-West Point Military AcademyWhere and What is it?-Young Grant as Cadet-His Classmates—He Graduates-Never quarrels.

LYSSES early showed his Scotch blood. That is to say, he had the substantial, strong qualities of character for which the well-trained families of Scotland are remarkable. No people are

calmer in action and more reverent in religious feeling, or surpass them in intelligence and integrity. When twelve years of age, he gave a fine illustration of self-reliance and manliness, along with the ability to manage difficult undertakings, which have marked his whole

career.

His father wanted several sticks of hewn timber brought from the forest. The boy had learned already to drive "the team," and liked nothing better than to take the reins. Mr. Grant told Ulysses that he might harness, and go for the timber; men would be there with handspikes to assist in "loading up."

Soon Ulysses was on the way, whip and "lines

in

his hands, with the manly pride felt only in a higher degree by the king, or president, or general, in his position of honor and authority.

When he reached the forest, no men were there; for some reason they had failed to appear. He looked around him a few moments in surprise, thinking what to do.

The natural and indeed entirely proper course would have been, to wait a sufficient time, and then return home if assistance did not come. But the tanner boy, accustomed to all sorts of labor, and inclined to take responsibility from which others of his age would expect to be excused, resolved not to go without the timber. How to get the heavy logs on the wagon was the serious question. Just then his eye rested on a tree fallen over, and leaning against another. This made the trunk an inclined plane, rising gradually upward from the ground. Ulysses saw at a glance, how to make the horses do the work intended for the workmen with their handspikes. He hitched the team to each of the logs, and drew one at a time near the tree, and lying parallel with it; i. e., in the same direction, lengthwise. The next thing was to swing the end round upon the inclined plane, and slide it along, till the timbers were at right angles with it, and projecting over it, far enough to admit the wagon under them. Then fastening the horses to these ends hanging over the back of the wagon, he dragged them in turn along into it; just as