His mother, who was equal to the emergency, sent the boy to a
teacher of the old school, who had himself worked his way from
the plough. After the exercise of considerable diplomacy, an
arrangement was arrived at whereby the youth was to go to school
on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and make shoes during the
remaining days of the week. This suited him admirably. That
very night he seized upon a geography, and began to learn the
counties of England and Wales. The fear of failure never left
him for two hours together, except when he slept. The plan of
work was faithfully kept; though by this time shoemaking had lost
its charms. He shortened his sleeping hours, and rose at any
moment that he awoke--at two, three, or four in the morning. He
got his brother, who had been plodding with him over shorthand,
to study horticulture, and fruit and vegetable culture; and that
brother shortly after took a high place in an examination held by
the Royal Horticultural Society. For a time, however, they
worked together; and often did their mother get up at four
o'clock in the depth of winter, light their fire, and return to
bed after calling them up to the work of self-culture. Even this
did not satisfy their devouring ambition. There was a bed in the
workshop, and they obtained permission to sleep there. Then they
followed their own plans. The young gardener would sit up till
one or two in the morning, and wake his brother, who had gone to
bed as soon as he had given up work the night before.
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