Page:Lives of the presidents in words of one syllable (1903).djvu/140

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At first the lad, Ben-ja-min was sent to a log house school. Here he was made fit for Bel-mont col-lege. Two years more saw him at Mi-a-mi U-ni-ver-si-ty, Ox-ford. At this place he met Miss Scott, who, in time, came to be his wife.

Har-ri-son took up law but ere he came to the bar he was wed to the girl of his choice when he was but a score of years old.

From the first it was plain that he had the gift of speech and a fine voice. These were a great help to him as he made his way in the world. Those for whom he did law work could count on him at all times to do his best. In 1855 he was one of a strong law firm and work came in fast. He had all sorts of cases and won name and fame in In-di-an-a, where he had made his home. He did not care how hard his work was, for by it he could earn sums to pay for the neat house where he and his young wife had gone to live.

When the war broke out Ben-ja-min Har-ri-son gave his help to raise men for the "70th In-di-an-a." At first he had a low post with these troops, but he went up so fast that he was soon at their head. He did brave work in all the fights and staid to the end of the war, when he was Brig-a-dier Gen-er-al. His men thought much of him, and, as he was quite small, gave him the pet name of "Lit-tle Ben."

When he got home from the war, Gen. Har-ri-son took up his law work once more. Soon his state sent him to the Sen-ate, and there he was known as one who was not for "Free Trade." He took high rank as a man who could make a good speech, and he found scores of friends. As