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“AndI’msureIstudy，“addedDan，noddingwithagroantowardtheblackboardfullofneatfigures。
“SeewhatJamesdid。Hedidnotmeantobeselfish，buthismotherwasproudofhim，andlethimdoasheliked，workingbyherselfthathemighthavebooksandtimetoreadthem。OneautumnJameswantedtogotoschool，andwenttotheministertoseeifhewouldhelphim，aboutdecentclothesandbooks。NowtheministerhadheardthegossipaboutJames’sidleness，andwasnotinclinedtodomuchforhim，thinkingthataboywhoneglectedhismother，andletherslaveforhim，wasnotlikelytodoverywellevenatschool。ButthegoodmanfeltmoreinterestedwhenhefoundhowearnestJameswas，andbeingratheranoddman，hemadethisproposaltotheboy，totrynowsincerehewas。
“’Iwillgiveyouclothesandbooksononecondition，James。’
“’Whatisthat，sir？’andtheboybrightenedupatonce。
“’Youaretokeepyourmother’swood-boxfullallwinterlong，anddoityourself。Ifyoufail，schoolstops。’Jameslaughedatthequeerconditionandreadilyagreedtoit，thinkingitaveryeasyone。
“Hebeganschool，andforatimegotoncapitallywiththewood-box，foritwasautumn，andchipsandbrushwoodwereplentiful。Heranoutmorningandeveningandgotabasketfull，orchoppedupthecatsticksforthelittlecookingstove，andashismotherwascarefulandsaving，thetaskwasnothard。ButinNovemberthefrostcame，thedaysweredullandcold，andwoodwentfast。Hismotherboughtaloadwithherownearnings，butitseemedtomeltaway，andwasnearlygone，beforeJamesrememberedthathewastogetthenext。Mrs。Snowwasfeebleandlamewithrheumatism，andunabletoworkasshehaddone，soJameshadtoputdownthebooks，andseewhathecoulddo。
“Itwashard，forhewasgoingonwell，andsointerestedinhislessonsthathehatedtostopexceptforfoodandsleep。Butheknewtheministerwouldkeephisword，andmuchagainsthiswillJamessetaboutearningmoneyinhissparehours，lestthewood-boxshouldgetempty。Hedidallsortsofthings，ranerrands，tookcareofaneighbor’scow，helpedtheoldsextondustandwarmthechurchonSundays，andinthesewaysgotenoughtobuyfuelinsmallquantities。Butitwashardwork；thedayswereshort，thewinterwasbitterlycold，andprecioustimewentfast，andthedearbooksweresofascinating，thatitwassadtoleavethem，fordulldutiesthatneverseemeddone。
“Theministerwatchedhimquietly，andseeingthathewasinearnesthelpedhimwithouthisknowledge。Hemethimoftendrivingthewoodsledsfromtheforest，wherethemenwerechoppingandasJamesploddedbesidetheslowoxen，hereadorstudied，anxioustouseeveryminute。’Theboyisworthhelping，thislessonwilldohimgood，andwhenhehaslearnedit，Iwillgivehimaneasierone，’saidtheministertohimself，andonChristmaseveasplendidloadofwoodwasquietlydroppedatthedoorofthelittlehouse，withanewsawandabitofpaper，sayingonly；
“’TheLordhelpsthosewhohelpthemselves。’
“PoorJamesexpectednothing，butwhenhewokeonthatcoldChristmasmorning，hefoundapairofwarmmittens，knitbyhismother，withherstiffpainfulfingers。Thisgiftpleasedhimverymuch，butherkissandtenderlookasshecalledhimher’goodson，’wasbetterstill。Intryingtokeepherwarm，hehadwarmedhisownheart，yousee，andinfillingthewood-boxhehadalsofilledthosemonthswithdutiesfaithfullydone。
Hebegantoseethis，tofeelthattherewassomethingbetterthanbooks，andtotrytolearnthelessonsGodsethim，aswellasthosehisschool-mastergave。
“Whenhesawthegreatpileofoakandpinelogsathisdoor，andreadthelittlepaper，heknewwhosentit，andunderstoodtheminister’splan；
thankedhimforit，andfelltoworkwithallhismight。Otherboysfrolickedthatday，butJamessawedwood，andIthinkofalltheladsinthetownthehappiestwastheoneinthenewmittens，whowhistledlikeablackbirdashefilledhismother’swood-box。“
“That’safirstrater!“criedDan，whoenjoyedasimplematter-of-facestorybetterthanthefinestfairytale；“Ilikethatfellowafterall。“
“Icouldsawwoodforyou，AuntJo!“saidDemi，feelingasifanewmeansofearningmoneyforhismotherwassuggestedbythestory。
“Tellaboutabadboy。Ilikethembest，“said
