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Boy Inventor (Notable American Authors Series - Part I)
Boy Inventor - Notable American Authors Series - Part I Author:Thomas Bulfinch Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. ANECDOTES AND CONVERSATIONS. Early in Matthew's acquaintance with Mr. B. he conceived the idea of going to College. Mr. B. told him there were... more » helps afforded to young men like him, who aspired to gain a literary education, but whose means were limited. Matthew objected, "But I am an Englishman, and I do not wish to give up my country." " That makes no difference," replied his friend; " these funds were many of them given by Englishmen, and it would be hard if the fact of English birth should debar one from enjoying their benefits." Yet Matthew could not bring his mind to be aided pecuniarily. " I can earn the money," said he, " and I had rather do so." In the course of their conversations his friend mentionedthe case of one young man who had found the means of paying his way through college by insuring his life, and borrowing the money upon that security. Matthew inquired how this was done, and the conversation made an impression on his mind, though he did not act upon the idea at that time. But when, a year after, he found it necessary to borrow money to establish himself in business, he decided to get his life insured, as a security for his obligations. It was his own proposal, not suggested by any doubt or question on the part of the friend who aided him. The arrangement was made, and Matthew secured, by the payment of about twenty dollars a year, a thousand dollars, to be paid in case of his death. This took all burden off his mind, for he felt no doubt of his being able to pay all his borrowed money if he should live, and he now saw that even if he should not live to carry his plans into execution, those who trusted him would not lose their advances. 'We have told candidly Matthew's attachment tothe name of Englishman, early in the term of his acquaintan...« less