No one else on the estate knew how to read,
and he didn't know much, but no doubt he could be of some assistance.
Such was Tidy's inward plan.
After this, the little girl might have been seen every evening
stretched at full length on the cabin floor, her head towards
the fireplace, where the choicest pine knots were kindled
into a cheerful blaze, with her spelling-book open before her.
She was "clambering" up the rough way of knowledge.
Did she accomplish her purpose? To be sure she did. Little reader,
did you ever make up your mind to do any thing and fail?
There's an old proverb that says, "Where there's a will there's a way;"
and this is true. Resolution and energy, patience and perseverance,
will achieve nearly every thing you set about. Try it.
Try it when you have hard lessons to do, puzzling examples
in arithmetic to solve, that long stint in sewing to do,
that distasteful music to practice, those bad habits to conquer.
Try it faithfully, and when you grow up, you'll be able to say,
from your own experience, "Where there's a will there's a way."
You must not expect, however, that Tidy learned very rapidly
or very perfectly under such discouragements. Think how it
would be with yourself, if you only knew your letters.
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