Still, they represented purpose and serious interest on my part, not the perfunctory effort to do well enough to get a certain mark; and corrections of them by a skilled older man would have impressed me and have commanded my respectful attention.

But I was not sufficiently developed to make myself take an intelligent interest in some of the subjects assigned me--the character of the Gracchi, for instance.

A very clever and studious lad would no doubt have done so, but I personally did not grow up to this particular subject until a good many years later.

The frigate and sloop actions between the American and British sea-tigers of 1812 were much more within my grasp.

I worked drearily at the Gracchi because I had to; my conscientious and much-to-be-pitied professor dragging me through the theme by main strength, with my feet firmly planted in dull and totally idea-proof resistance.
I had at the time no idea of going into public life, and I never studied elocution or practiced debating.